Avian Bird Flu H5N1 in Bangladesh

We have been hearing about the presence of avian Bird Flu H5N1 in Bangladesh since March, last year. It has now spread in an epidemic scale (40 out of 68 districts). Widespread culling is in effect trying to reduce the virus from attacking the humans. The government has banned selling live poultry. So far no human deaths are not reported in Bangladesh although some flu affected humans were quarantined.

The epidemic is not only confined to Bangladesh, but India, Pakistan, Nepal, Thailand etc are also been affected. It seems we are witnessing another global spread.

The H5N1 blog is a good source of information on this. A recent editorial in the New Nation suggests ways to tackle bird flu in Bangladesh.

And what effect does it have on the industry? In Bangladesh many have stopped consuming poultry related products. It is a massive blow to the economy.

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In Istanbul among activists

In case you were wondering why my blog was not being updated, I am out of station. My travel to Istanbul was eventful right from the start when I left my camera at home. Thats very unusual as I take it almost whenever I get out of the house even for a walk.

One had to worry when you know you have to change the plane in Munich and go through immigration within 30 minutes and your flight started 15 minutes late. After the announcement in the mid air that the Istanbul bounds were rebooked to a later flight and how I ended up taking the same flight -thats another story.

I am here for a conference with more than twenty "digitally empowered activists from around the world" arranged by the 'Berkman center for internet and society' at Harvard Law School.

The conference was very informative and knowledgeable as we discussed how to get the tools to the people who need them most. And knowing these great individuals; from geeks to journalists and activists and sharing our knowledge, brainstorming was really a great experience. More interesting was to look at the laptops individuals carried; the US activists prefer Apple Macbook and in a few cases IBM Thinkpad. The Hundred dollar laptop and the ASUS EEE also made appearance.



Istanbul's European part is not much different than Europe itself except some friendly cheaters who are there to strip your wallet with the use of their rhetorics before you wake up to the reality. The city and especially the night life was live and buzzing instead of a chilly weather. Turkish foods are exotic but not upto my taste.

Haven't been able to look around the city. Hope to steal some time from tomorrow's session to visit some of the numerous landmarks of the city.

Meanwhile was shocked by internet blocks in Turkey and incidentally we are here to discuss how to beat the censorships. Example here Sakib's Wordpress blog.



John Palfrey has more on the Turkish censorships.

Ethan writes about the Imran Jamal's session on activism with Facebook. An added information: Imran is a British-Bangladeshi and I was delighted to meet him here.

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Picture of the day

A 600 year old Gothic masterpiece - The Church of St. Mary in Chojna (Königsberg), Poland.

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Today's Links

* How to Beat Internet Tapping in Bangladesh.

* When East Pakistan Became Bangladesh.

* Can Muslims be vegetarian?

* The face(book) of surveillance.

* Facebook has a problem with trust

* Millionaire Gas Workers.

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Picture of the day

Clear water in the 10 km long and 1.5 km wide Werbellinsee in Barnim district of the Brandenburg State.

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What if?

What if internet ceases to work? Will we be able to carry on with our lives? Will our plastic money be authorized? Will we be able to carry on with our jobs, businesses? Do we have a back up plan? Will our electronic passports be read so that we can travel on?

We will have to have these answers ready as:

The World is Flat, and More Vulnerable Than Ever

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Picture of the night

Potsdamer Platz

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