Incommunicado no more

Against all the odds, I now have a new cell phone number. It's 202-294-9901. Against all reasonable expectations, I don't have the handset. UPS are incompetent. But I should have it by Friday. Which means this number will be useful for approximately 3 of my waking hours before I go back to Canada. Sweet.

The Doha round in HK

Spiteful quibbling is perhaps the best way to describe the mood that currently pervades the Doha trade talks taking place in Hong Kong. As anti-globalization protestors engage in their usual marches, colourful displays and comical caricatures, their unbridled hatred for anything that even resembles "WTO" blinds them to what is actually happening. The pro-globalization western powers are not exactly a solid negotiating block proponing one constant policy of trade liberalization - in fact, far from it. America continues to push for a narrow focus on agricultural trade reform (which, though politically convenient, is actually the right idea) while the EU refuses to engage unless it can somehow detract attention from its voluminous butter mountains and wine lakes. Progress, it seems, is too difficult to fit into a busy agenda of banter.

All the while developing nations grow increasingly frustrated as the talks show less and less promise of the reform that they desperately want, and need. Can anything be done? Storming out of the talks in a temper tantrum, as Benin has threatened to do over cotton, hardly seems a fitting solution. Or is it? Developing nations are failing to recognize that trade reform is not subject to the whims of the world's largest and wealthiest economies; yes, obviously were the US and EU to reform their trade restrictions with developing nations a great deal could be accomplished. But recent studies, notably by the World Bank, have shown that most of the opportunity for increased economic growth through trade reform lies in "South-South" trading relationships - i.e. in eliminating the restrictions that developing countries have instituted between themselves. If the US and EU are going to misbehave and argue with each other rather than push for real reform, why not let them do so? Developing nations should engage in trade reform with each other regardless, while the US and EU are left twiddling their thumbs.

A grey hair

Out, damned hair! out, I say!-- One; two; why, then 'tistime to do't;--Hell is murky!--Fie, my lord, fie! an investment analyst, and afeard? What need we fear who knows it, when none can callour power to account?--Yet who would have thought the young man to have had so much greyness in him?

I pulled one out today. For about a year friends have made the outrageous claim that they have spotted the odd gray hair on my head. I thought they were joking. This is not cool.

Fancy parties and revelry

It was a long week, and last night I went out for a much-needed drink with the other analysts (well, admittedly, more than one.) We initially went out to a bar near the Bank, but decided to check out a party at the main Bank building that was being held for the Infrastructure group (of which, apparently, I am a part) - I was planning on going to this thing anyway just to see what it was like, but thought it had been cancelled due to greatly exaggerated threats of snow. In any case, it was well worth it. I definitely felt out of my element - there was undoubtedly too much class for the likes of me - but it was incredible anyway. Open bar with fantastic drinks, amazing food, dance floors, diplomatic shmoozing etc. Of course, an open bar and I go a little too well together, but I made it home ok by the end of the night. I have quite a few of these things to look forward to however; apparently, this is a good time of the year to be in DC. I'm probably going to the Irish and Canadian embassy parties (I'll let you know which one is better - Guinness or Canadian beer? Tough call.) There are also at least two more Bank parties I'll feel obliged to attend. At least I get some use out of my suits.

Board Approval

So, yes, I "met" Wolfowitz on Thursday. What really happened was that I sat in the Board of Directors' conference room at the World Bank and listened to the President and the various country Executive Directors debate a project on Iraq before my team had its chance to present our Grameen project. Overall, it went as smoothly as possible - it's a little difficult to criticize a project that is directly alleviating poverty in one of the world's most impoverished nations, with a company that has a proven track record of success to boot.

Although my more experienced colleagues at the Bank think I am amusing and a little naive for it, I was very excited about the opportunity and was grinning from ear to ear for the entire afternoon. It really was like a plenary session of the UN, with various country representatives interjecting on the pros and cons of the project up for debate, and Wolfowitz supervising the entire process. There were about 20 or 30 executive directors, with some (US, China, France, Japan, UK, Russia etc.) representing one country and others representing groups who contribute less to the Bank's funds. Interestingly enough (at least from a personal point of view), Canada and Ireland are represented by the same delegate. Coincidence? I think not. Of course, most of the information I was privy to at the meeting is confidential, but suffice to say that it was an interesting experience, and we were successful in obtaining approval for our project.

Afterwards to celebrate, Taylor and I went to see Aeon Flux (which we both agreed was a "pretty" movie if somewhat lacking in plot and character development) and then grabbed shisha at the Prince Palace in Georgetown. Apple flavour, in my humble opinion, schools all others.

This has been a good week for another reason - I finally found another apartment, and will be moving in for the New Year. It's still in Georgetown but even closer to my work and very centrally located. This time my room will have space for an actual bed and perhaps even room to move around in and breathe. I'm excited.

Lebanese Blonde

Because I'm listening to the Ministry of Sound Chillout Session right now. This CD makes me very contemplative, and to be honest, screws with my thoughts a little. It might be the music, or it might be RYP's "Dangerous Places", which I have been reading as a source of inspiration for my inevitable vagabonding through the 'Stans. Either way, the bizarre combination of the two this evening coupled with the fact that I read through Russell's Aristotle today has put me in a very strange place. What to say?

I don't like Aristotle anymore. Sorry Matt, you were right. I really am a Platonist at heart - thank you for knowing me better (in some ways) than I know myself. His ethical system disturbs me, particularly with regard to the fulfillment of potentiality being the only moral yardstick with which to measure man. I mean, I consider myself a stoic in many ways, and I cannot accept that as the basis for constructing a moral code.

I like chipotle burritos. And they enjoy satisfying my appetite since it is their final cause. But what happens when they give me indigestion, Aristotle?

Killer Squirrels

No joke. I just had to post this up here because it is so ridiculous, and reminds me a bit of three brain college humour (at least some will know what I'm talking about.)

World AIDS Day - a personal impact

As my blog is supposed to be at least somewhat development-focused, World AIDS Day of course deserves a mention here. Dealing with HIV infection and trying to limit its spread (especially in developing countries) is becoming increasingly important in development initiatives, and the true societal and personal cost of the disease is becoming increasingly apparent, and frightening. And despite the wide-ranging consequences of the disease, I think it is the very personal and close-to-home aspect of it that needs to be stressed in the fight against it. Dehumanizing the ravages of the disease by experiencing it only through news reports concerning a distant continent and people of an alien culture makes it very difficult to convince the public and the leaders of developing nations that this is an urgent threat that needs to be addressed before it reaches epidemic proportions (which some believe it already has.) The threat sometimes simply doesn't feel 'real' enough.

I watched a South African movie today at an event sponsored by the IFC about the hardships facing one African woman who is diagnosed with the virus - Yesterday. The film was touching in a number of ways, but what struck me most was what happened afterwards - the woman in charge of the showing was on the verge of tears when she thanked us for coming. I felt heartless when I witnessed her emotional response to the film, but it at least emphasized for me that what appeared to be happening in a fictional story set in a distant locale had very real-world parallels with the challenges posed by AIDS today. It is this understanding, and the accompanying emotional involvement, that will spur people into action against the spread of HIV.