Dept. of ethnologica, kerlone, November 19, 2002 at 11:02:31 PM CET

Bill Gates is the Icon of a New Cargo Cult

The India Times calls the charity of Bill Gates a Cargo Cult come true for many indians.

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Dept. of ethnologica, kerlone, November 18, 2002 at 12:39:05 PM CET

Laughing Epidemic

Has anyone already heared about a laughing epedemic 1962 in Tansania? The Neue Zürcher Zeitung reports about it in an article about scientific reseach of laughing: "Betrachten wir zum Beispiel jene bemerkenswerte Lachepidemie, die 1962 in einer Mädchenschule in Tanganjika (heute Tansania) ausbrach. Die ersten Symptome traten am 30. Januar auf, als drei Mädchen einen Kicheranfall bekamen und nicht mehr aufhören konnten zu lachen. Die Symptome griffen bald auf alle 95 Schülerinnen über, bis die Schule am 18. März schliesslich den Unterricht einstellen musste. Die Mädchen wurden nach Hause geschickt, von wo sich die Epidemie weiter ausbreitete. In anderen Schulen Zentralafrikas kam es zu weiteren Ausbrüchen, die sich wie ein Lauffeuer ausbreiteten, und als die Epidemie zwei Jahre später verebbte, hatte sie etwa 1000 Menschen, zumeist Frauen und Mädchen, ereilt." Really strange stuff. Via Quimbo

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Dept. of ethnologica, kerlone, November 17, 2002 at 8:41:02 PM CET

Intellectual Land Occupation

This article (german) at Telepolis thinks about the dangers of increasing intellectual property right for delveloping countries. They compare the ongoing protection of copyrights and patents withs some kind of intellectual land occupation, wich takes the econmical weaker countries the possibility to compete in knowledge driven technologies or even to invent new knowledge.

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Dept. of ethnologica, fabulous, November 16, 2002 at 5:34:57 PM CET

Sunset in Pukschar

Indian Cameltraders try to get some rest in the late evening sun in Pukschar/India. In these days in this indian desertcity about 320 km south of New Delhi, the yearly markets, where a couple of thousands of camel, horses and mules ar traded, take place. via Spiegel Online

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Dept. of ethnologica, kerlone, November 15, 2002 at 3:34:26 PM CET

Connection Between Mayas and Temple of Teotihuacán

For seven centuries, the ancient city of Teotihuacán flourished 40 kilometers northeast of modern-day Mexico City. Its culture and artwork were distinct from the Mayan civilization nearly 1000 kilometers to the southwest on the Yucatán Peninsula, so scholars thought that there was little interaction between the two peoples. But now, a newly discovered tomb suggests that Teotihuacán rulers had some kind of connection with Mayan royal families, reports Daily Insight Via Anthropology in the News

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Dept. of ethnologica, kerlone, November 15, 2002 at 3:24:15 PM CET

Africa: Scientists Learning From Tribes

NAIROBI, Kenya (Reuters) -- Scientists hope to learn from ancient tribal knowledge how to protect fragile lands bordering Africa's deserts as part of a $50 million conservation project, the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) said. CNN reports. Via Anthropology in the News

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Dept. of ethnologica, kerlone, November 14, 2002 at 2:55:02 PM CET

After The Forgotten War Comes Anarchy to Kongo

Spiegel Online reports (in german) about the situation in the Kongo. After the so called forgotten war (which killed 3 Million people between 1998 and 2002) the armys left the land, but the slaughter between tribes, rebells and other groups is going on - an so do the deals with mineral resources.

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Dept. of ethnologica, kerlone, November 14, 2002 at 12:42:33 PM CET

First Fatality in Mapuche Conflict

In Chile a 17 year old Mapuche Indian, shot probably by the police at November 7 during confrontations of mapuche and police, died yesterday. It's the first dead in the long enduring land-conflict, in which mapuche indians occupy land of forest companies which they say is of their ancestors. El Tercera reports in spanish, the Exil-Mapuches of the Netherlands have also a lot of information which can be translated to english. Update: Now finally the News Agency Reuters did a story about in english.

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Dept. of ethnologica, kerlone, November 13, 2002 at 11:20:13 AM CET

Pehuenche Indians of Chile Fearing Dam Plan

The government of Chile and Endesa, the energy company owned by the Spanish-controlled Enersis Group, are planning to build a barrage at the river Bio-Bio. The Pehuenches most probably have to flee the flooding of their ancestors land, even if formally protected by indigenous laws. But, as so often in such cases, it's also a story about corruption and relations between government and companies. More at the Miami Herald.

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Dept. of ethnologica, kerlone, November 12, 2002 at 11:02:51 AM CET

New Pre-Inca Ruins Found Beneath Lake Titicaca

Peruvian divers have found pre-Inca stairways, ramps and walls beneath the waters of Lake Titicaca, but experts said on Wednesday the discoveries were not the remains of a legendary lost city., reports Reuters.

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Dept. of ethnologica, kerlone, November 12, 2002 at 10:49:27 AM CET

Trend of Giving Back the Bones

The skeletons of colonialism may get a decent burial at last: Body parts trundled back from all corners of the globe and displayed like mere ornaments are among the exhibits most popular with visitors to British collections. James Morrison [The Independent] reports on moves to give other cultures' ancestors a more dignified end. Update:Link repaired.

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Dept. of ethnologica, kerlone, November 12, 2002 at 10:37:21 AM CET

Burkina Faso Calendar

The munich college "Gymnasium Fürstenried West" has a project running for Burkina Faso. If you haven't yet a calendar for the next year or need a little gift for your colleague at university, you should take a look at the Burkina Faso Calendar 2003 (PDF) with impressing photos in color. Just print it out! And then spend some money for the project. Just better than buying a calendar in a shop, they are really expensive.

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