Personal
We are back from a few days in Dubrovnik. Here are some photos.
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The class of 1988
I spoke at student-led conference on international development at Oxford University last night.
When I was a student at Oxford, the international development group, Third World First, used to meet in a small cafe on… Continue reading
Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life. Don’t be trapped by dogma — which is living with the results of other people’s thinking. Don’t let the noise of others’ opinions drown out your own inner… Continue reading
It seems like only yesterday that we moved to Ethiopia, but our three years has come to an end. Without wanting to be too sentimental, I have loved getting to know Ethiopia better and especially its people, culture and history.… Continue reading
Christoph Niemann at the New York Times offers a splendid visual diary of a trip from New York to Berlin. The first image is below. More here.
from the New York Times Abstract City blog
Owen on the Swiss-French border
We are back in Addis after backpacking through France, Italy and Switzerland on the Tour de Mont Blanc. Highly recommended: if you are interested, the details are elsewhere on this site.
I’ve come… Continue reading
Hadley Freeman in the Guardian has rumbled my black jeans delusion:
Black button-down shirts are basically the upper-body equivalent of black jeans, which were discussed on this page a few weeks ago. Just as some misguided men think the black… Continue reading
Today’s Guardian newspaper has an article about Robert Owen, after whom I was named:
the Scottish parliament spent part of yesterday debating whether Robert Owen’s face should appear on Scottish banknotes. The explanation, as those who know the history… Continue reading
G and I had the privilege of joining great athletes and olympians including Haile Gebreselassie, Paula Radcliffe, Richard Nerurkar, Millon Wolde, Hugh Jones, and sponsors of tomorrow’s Great Ethiopian Run, for dinner at Castellis… Continue reading
The sweetness of the apricots offsets the spiciness of the curry in this dish which I am sure has no connection with India at all. It is a very quick and easy vegan dish. I usually… Continue reading
I was touched to receive the following message through my website yesterday:
i am one of the proud person in the world when in heard that you are going to man utd but please i am applealing to you that… Continue reading
My father was a diplomat. When he left his last post in Africa (as High Commissioner to Nigeria) to become High Commissioner to Australia, he sent a message to the then Foreign Secretary reflecting on a career spent mainly… Continue reading
We went to see Teza last night, a newish film by Haile Gerima which won Best Screenplay and the Special jury prize at the Venice film festival last year. The film is in Amharic with English sub-titles.
The… Continue reading
Edward Barder is a not-very-distant relative who makes fishing rods.
According to a quote from the Independent, quoted on the The Edward Barder Rod Company Website
“Barder is unquestionably Britain’s finest rod-maker”
Personally, I’m for banning fishing, though I wish Edward well.
Bill Sonnenschein, educator, civil rights activist, roadie, and friend, died on 29 December 2008.
Bill had been a special advisor to President Marc Ravalomananat of Madagascar for the last few months. He taught leadership at Berkeley, which is… Continue reading
I know this is all very immature, but I thought this was a funny idea (via):
when you make a donation to Planned Parenthood in her name, they’ll send her a card telling her that the donation has been… Continue reading
I am sitting at Heathrow airport, on my way to Ethiopia.
It is a big change to move away from home for 3 years. I am excited, as I love Ethiopia; but I am also a bit apprehensive about… Continue reading
If we want to reduce carbon emissions, should we cap the total and then allow trading, or should we impose a tax on all carbon emissions? Organizations and Markets looks at the economics. Here is the conclusion:
So the final… Continue reading
Chris McGreal has a piece in the Guardian today about DFID's work in Africa. (Disclosure: I work for DFID). Chris McGreal says:
The result, say DFID officials in Africa, is that they are able to direct large amounts… Continue reading
Rogue development aid by Moisés Naím:
States like China, Iran, Saudi Arabia and Venezuela have the cash and the will to reshape the world into a place very unlike the one where we want to live. By pushing their alternative… Continue reading
Owen Barder is the Europe Director at the Center for Global Development. He writes here about development, economics, politics, computers, running, and anything else that interests him. He also hosts Development Drums.
Tax, trade, transparency … & turfApril 23, 2013
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For the first time ever (World Bank edition)April 19, 2013
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The Europe Development DigestApril 16, 2013
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Are rich countries ‘getting away with murder’ by massaging aid figures?April 11, 2013
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Global wealth inequalityApril 8, 2013
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Waste not, want notApril 1, 2013
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Hello Owen, Stumbled on your website by accident…I’m currently trying to arange a visa for someone I work...May 16, 2013
Dear Biniam, Please refere to the following link. http://www.ethiotelecom.et/new s/news.php?id=85April 25, 2013
Hi all, I have the expereiance that blackberry phones will not work directly with the Ethio-telecom GPRS...April 25, 2013
Hi! The service provider in Ethiopia, Ethio – Telecom states the APN settings are the following: APN : etc.com...April 9, 2013
Interesting ideas, I wrote some thoughts on them here,April 24, 2013
”Today for the first time ever, I felt so relieved after I realized I wasn’t looking out making...April 19, 2013
Barack Obama (2/2013): “So the United States will join with our allies to eradicate such extreme poverty in...April 19, 2013
Owen: Where are we going with this? Is this a refutation of the power law of wealth distribution?April 10, 2013
Hey Abita check out my website as I may need a guide like you to help me run bike tours there, we just did...April 5, 2013
Hey Jeff enjoy the riding there–I have run several bike tours there out of Toronto and I love riding...April 5, 2013
Hi guys I totally disagree with your assessment of the children. I have ridden from Adiss to Lalibela 5...April 5, 2013
Hi Owen The long format works well for me because (like Robb) I enjoy getting into the substance and...April 1, 2013