tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2532313388110978122.post4703043210815577058..comments2023-10-28T00:47:18.069-07:00Comments on Weeks Population: Demographics of Africa from President Obama's PerspectiveJohn Weekshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04069566137451684355noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2532313388110978122.post-1824197087728263352013-07-04T17:41:23.432-07:002013-07-04T17:41:23.432-07:00The best source for income data would be the World...The best source for income data would be the World Bank (www.worldbank.org) and then click on Data. The best source about life in Africa's cities is probably UN-Habitat's State of African Cities 2010 (http://www.unhabitat.org/pmss/listItemDetails.aspx?publicationID=3034). Our own work on neighborhoods in Accra can be found online at:http://geography.sdsu.edu/Research/Projects/IPC/publication/publications.htmlJohn Weekshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04069566137451684355noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2532313388110978122.post-67035173412033733542013-07-03T12:11:55.401-07:002013-07-03T12:11:55.401-07:00By the way, Prof Weeks. You said ... "So the...By the way, Prof Weeks. You said ... "So there is no question that Africa is on the move, but it's not moving fast enough for the child still languishing in poverty in forgotten townships".<br /><br />Indeed - it's a vital observation. One I take to heart, by the way, because I do make personal trips to the ghettos of East Africa. They are crazy, mixed-up, rough and SUBHUMAN places! My impression is that things can't go on much longer with the "status quo" for these places. Social order will inevitably break down. If my comments seem "negative" at times here - it is because I have experienced those places in Africa firsthand. <br /><br />Anyway - this raises an essential point. Do you know where I can find statistics on the distribution of wealth (or income) for African countries? Also, do you know if snyone has actually studied the demographics of ghettos - in Africa or anywhere else. I really don't know if anyone collects data like this - but it is quite essential for modeling the future trends of Africa (and the world).<br />thanks!, DrPAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2532313388110978122.post-13585015099852266702013-07-03T07:26:30.812-07:002013-07-03T07:26:30.812-07:00Prof Weeks - I found Pres. Obama's comments ve...Prof Weeks - I found Pres. Obama's comments very positive. I truly hope he gets more support for the ideas he has put forward. I took a look at the reader's comments on Pres. Obama's ideas in Yahoo. The reader response was running "negative" in an overwhelming way. This negative feedback was basically from sentiments that said "do you really want us to give $7 billion to Africa - we need this money back home!". It's an understandable feeling, I suppose. But most people do not grasp what is at stake if things aren't turned around in Africa.<br /><br />I would be very interested in your thoughts from the Ghana perspective. After watching Kenya and E Africa for almost 20 years - my impression is that the biggest poisitve changes in Africa would be the following:<br />(1) An effective Green Revolution in farming, similar to what has happened in India and China, (2) Major steps forward on new energy and water programs - possibly through large desalination projects and water transport, (3) Education programs to rural areas through satellite reception and special in-country broadcasts by talented African teachers.<br />DrP, Los AngelesAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com