This week I have been Reading
The 2011 Tour de France race guide.
Watching
An Idiot Abroad
Listening to
The xx
Discovering
(Or rediscovering) Hamlet - Nicki Greenberg's beautiful new version, thanks to the fabulous Snarkattack, who invited me along to see Nicki talk about the creative process behind the book.
Eating
- An enormous serve of bangers'n'mash and a nourishing pint of Kilkenny at the Town Hall one dismal Tuesday evening.
- A "Chachi" - chianina meatball sandwich - another brioche donut and some amazing chocolate tart at Beatrix, which Essjay has reviewed.
- A lazy Sunday lunch at The Crimean. The Polish hunter's stew (bigos) was just the thing to revive me after a chilly bike ride.
- Generous piles of fried food with oodles of chillies and sichuan peppercorns at Sichuan House
- Succulent suckling pig at Liberteene.
- An array of bright, zesty flavours at Chin Chin, where the only problem was having to choose only some of the items from what looks to be a menu that is all hits, no filler.
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By injera, on July 9th, 2008% This is infuriating in so many ways:
“Some African leaders mentioned that we should bear in mind that Mugabe will retire in a few years. Putting pressure on Zimbabwe, including sanctions, might lead to internal conflict. We should be discreet and careful,” a spokesman for Japan told the paper.
…
[Tanzania's President Jakaya] Kikwete said at the G8 summit: “We are saying no party can govern alone in Zimbabwe and therefore the parties have to work together, come out to work together in a government and then look at the future of their country together.”
BBC News
Just. Rendered. Inarticulate.
So, after the break are some things that make me smile despite all of this.
Continue reading A break from reality
By injera, on June 26th, 2008% In his column in today’s Guardian, Timothy Garton Ash suggests seven things that those of us outside Zimbabwe can do to support Zimbabweans in achieving a democratic government. Read the article here.
One of the seven recommended actions is to sign the petition at avaaz.org. He notes that the number of signatories rose from around 90,000 to 111,000 whilst he was writing his column. When I signed, it was at around the 120,000 mark and it now sits at over 160,000. Please add your support!
By injera, on June 26th, 2008% From the BBC News site, a video of Nelson Mandela’s comments regarding Zimbabwe.
It’s probably too much to hope that this will pierce Mugabe’s conscience, but this should give heart to the opposition in Zimbabwe and all those who hope for a truly democratic government there.
By injera, on June 23rd, 2008% The Zimbabwean election countdown has come to a premature, but sadly predictable, end. The Guardian has posted this timeline detailing recent events and it’s depressing reading.
Christopher Hitchens recently asked the question “Why hasn’t Nelson Mandela spoken out against Robert Mugabe?”. It seems to be a fair question. A number of prominent African leaders, including Mandela’s wife and Thabo Mbeki’s brother, have given their support to a call to the end of violence in Zimbabwe. Madiba’s signature is notable for its absence.
Certainly recent events have shown that Mugabe remains obstinate in the fact of international approbation, however Zimbabweans would doubtless be heartened by the support of one of the world’s truly respected leaders.
By injera, on June 19th, 2008% From Mugabe urged to cancel run-off:
“Business Day quoted unnamed sources as saying that Mbeki tried to set up a meeting between Mugabe and Tsvangirai — their first to date — but did not receive a firm commitment from Zimbabwe’s president.
It said Mbeki attempted to convince Mugabe and Tsvangirai to form a government of national unity.”
That’s likely to happen…
By injera, on June 19th, 2008% Right now, there’s nothing coherent I can add by way of commentary on any of this.
Choose Mugabe or you face a bullet
Zimbabwe TV drops opposition ads
Africans, UN pressure Mugabe
Zimbabwe voters terrorised: ‘Abductions, murders and disappearances’ from The Guardian Audio – Chris McGreal
By injera, on June 19th, 2008%
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