Jun 15 2008
“make it rain” and the wonderful work of the UN
I snap photographs occasionally of things I see on Kenya’s highways. I had a discussion elsewhere on the web a while back about how obscure and elusive the idea of “visual poetry” is. Sucker that I am I even looked it up. “Vispo” for short, of you’re interested.
Some of the slogans on vehicle in Kenya might classify…If you can tell me what the slogan on the matatu (taxi) below means I would be grateful. Is the owner a farmer perhaps? Or maybe he / she has some sort of deeper metaphorical intentions that led to the pasting of poetry on this vehicle? In case you can’t read it, just below the number plate is says “make it rain”.
And in other breaking news, the UN regional headquarters in East africa has come under severe criticism for their carbon-consumption excesses. There have even been requests from certain militant sections of Kenyan society for the UN to place its carbon-reduction reccomendations for africans in its collective dark, personal and uncomfortable places.
So, if you’re an african in need of rescuing from your own excessive carbon consumption, use a wind-up alarm clock, not a digital one. Probably best to buy several of them. The only ones I have found at Nakumatt are made in China and will, beyond a shadow of a doubt break shortly after purchase (if they work at all).
4 responses so far
I have an urgent question as I want to immediately act on this revelation about the carbon footprints of electric clocks! Are there wind-up clocks with snooze buttons?
Colleen,
Thank you for your deep concern and for joining me in my fight to save the planet. As an african I am deeply ashamed of my yeti-like carbon footprint.
This is a very good question you raise. If you are one of the earth-plunderers that still live in brick and cement houses then here is how you handle the “snooze” issue. Set your clock as per usual. Wind it properly so that it has the krag to make its noise the next morning. When the alarm goes off, throw it very hard against the nearest brick wall. You will thus be able to snooze as long as you like. As mentioned in the blog post, you may need a good supply of alarm clocks though, to last you through the month.
Dipesh is my favorite African militant.
s.
Seamus, as a Canadian, I confess I have plundered the earth and am in big time reform mode, which is clearly not the case of Africans with their greedy reluctance to relinquish their electric clock use. As I have learned (also thanks to the UN) the entire continent of Africa contributes 4% of total global carbon dioxide emissions, while its inhabitants are projected to suffer disproportionately from the consequences of global climate change, the flagrant abuse of clock use is particularly repugnant and I am comforted by your shame which I see as some sign of hope.
I also thank you Seamus for your thoughtful and brilliant resolution to my quandary about the snooze button issue and am anticipating with relish the throwing of my windup clock as it screeches tomorrow morning. Sadly, as it is an old house, the clock will first impact about 4 hectares worth of ex-boreal forest before hitting brick but it will be a very satisfying throw in any event. After that, a trip to a big box store to stock up on made-in-china windups. Uh oh, I’m sensing an upcoming landfill issue?
And as for our militant friend in Kenya, we salute you!