Making A Better World - Milton Louw

In these troubling times and comparisons of costs in other countries, it is a little bit of comfort to realise that as Namibian consumers we have had some success. The following is taken from the "Africa Prepaid Mobile Price Index 2012: South Africa" study by Research ICT Africa (http://www.researchictafrica.net/home.php) "Not long ago, South Africa and Namibia shared the same mobile termination rates and had similar end-user prices. Today, Namibia enjoys amongst the cheapest mobile prepaid prices in Africa, as a result of the slashing of its termination rates close to cost, which pressured the incumbents towards cost-based pricing, thereby increasing demand and remaining highly profitable. South African prepaid mobile prices are three times more expensive than in  Namibia. The most dramatic shift in prices was that of Namibia – the result of aggressive price reductions by the dominant operator MTC following systematic interconnection rate reductions towards cost-b...

http://toekomsnamibie.blogspot.com/ Toekoms Namibië is 'n samewerkings projek van Milton Louw en Moira Delie om die boek, "Future Namibia" te verwerk in Afrikaans. Die boek handel oor die nodigheid van 'n regering en besgheidslui wat die mense van die land eerste stel om te verseker almal bly in 'n land van vrede en oorvloed.

I know some prostitutes personally. There is no shame in knowing that they have sex for money. After all, if one of my friends is looking for a prostitute’s services, I will gladly help him get a lady for the evening, whether it is in the casino or on the street. Yet I am never ashamed of my friend or his behaviour. Sometimes referred to as the oldest profession in the world, it is also probably the most controversial. The moment I bring up the subject in “decent” conversation it either brings laughter (among the men) or derision (from the ladies). So, I know I am going to get a lot of difficulties for touching this subject: There are two types of prostitution. • The first is for the basic need of survival. The money received is used for the food and shelter. This is a problem of poverty. • The second, is a little bit more complicated. The money has become the central reason. The money is no longer just for the basic needs, but has become a means to fulfil other pleasures such...

When I ask you to listen to me and you start giving advice and you have not done what I asked. When I ask you to listen to me and you begin to tell me why I shouldn’t feel that way, you are trampling on my feelings. When I ask you to listen to me and you feel you have to do something to solve my problem you have failed me, strange as that may seem. Listen! All I asked, was that you listen not talk or do - just hear me. Advice is cheap; ten cents will get you both Dear Abby and Billy Graham in the same newspaper, and I can do for myself; I’m not helpless. When you do something for me that I can and need to do for myself, you contribute to my fear and weakness. But, when you accept as a simple fact that I do feel what I feel, no matter how irrational, then I can quit trying to convince you and can get about the business of understanding what’s behind this irrational feeling. And when that’s clear, the answers are obvious and I don’t need advice. Irrational feelings make sense whe...

In this blog I am addressing the Association for Progressive Communications (APC) in the application for the position of African ICT Policy Advocacy Coordinator. The issues to be addressed are: a) why do you think ICT policy is in critical need of attention in Africa; b) what do you think are the most important areas to intervene in the near future?; and, c) how do you see the relationship between human rights and the internet? ICT Policy First, I wish to address our understanding of ICT and how we can integrate it into our governance systems and also our daily lives. I have struggled to find a term for this and the best I could find was “ Progress through Technology”,  or in German, “Vorsprung Durch Technik” . I prefer to use the German expression because in German the word “Technik” not only means technology, but also the technique of studying and mastering the skills of something. Thus my belief that African countries need to relook at their ICT Policy a...

North-East of Swakopmund, and somewhere where the line that runs the copper ore down from Otari has a station called Omaruru, there stands a mass of huge table-topped mountains. At the time of which I write they were known as the Erongos, so named after a famous chief of the Gainin Bushmen, who had made something of a stand there against the invading Damaras that eventually "ate up" both him and his tribe. Even in that land, where most mountains are table-topped, and where the flat plateau above and the plain beneath represent geological epochs that are divided by aeons of years, these Erongo Mountains are remarkable; for they have never been climbed. From their base thick vegetation can be seen crowning the inaccessible summit, and in several places water flows in gushing cataracts down the steep cliffs that frown upon the plain on every side. This mountain had always had a great fascination for me; and once or twice, in the old days, before the railway came, and when ...

Last week we celebrated Constitution Day - 9th Februray. I thought about this great document we have in Namibia, but have to keep asking myself, "Great that we have Namibian Rights. What about Namibian responsibilities?" Since Independence, Namibians have been guaranteed their rights through our Constitution. These rights are are known by all, but how many of us realise the burden of responsibilities these same rights put on us? In this opinion piece I look at the rights in our constitution, and compare them to the responsibility expected of each of us to ensure these rights for us all. And what is it to be a good citizen? You must always remember that the other person has rights while being aware of your own Think and do as you want, but know that your rights end where another’s begin Create things which are useful to yourself and others “It is to produce wealth by labour and only by labour, and to spend less than you have produced that your childre...