An interesting phenomenon is happening here..... Satellite TV....but not just Satellite TV, but China TV. The school, Pope Paul VI, did a good thing by getting satellite TV for the World Cup. They broadcast it so students could see it. It was a great opportunity for the students, and also a way to bring students and teachers together, but here is the fallout:
Most Northern Ugandans have not seen TV, they have some video huts that pop up occasionally, and you would pay a small fee to walk in the hut and watch, usually only Nigerian soap operas, English soccer, or Music videos.
So now, Ugandans are getting hit with TVs with hundreds of channels, and it is very tempting to watch. Teachers who have not seen this much TV before sit in the staff room and watch TV-- no matter what it is.
Since the World Cup is over, the school is no longer paying for the package, so they only get 3 channels--for free I think. They are all Chinese channels whose commercials paint China like a combination of Paris, Rome, Hawaii, and Disneyland complete with giant cartoon characters. The news is all produced by China, but often has english speaking Anglos delivering the news.
We just spent an hour watching three morning show hosts yuk it up talking about China. The one guy had a polo with the collar popped, a young attractive woman, and another guy.
So is China sneaking into the hearts and minds of the third world through free TV? We drink Chinese bottled water here (no problems), but many of the other goods are made in China and very cheaply made. Just ask any of us what we think about Chinese toilet paper after 6 weeks....
Students have started exams and school is winding down for the second term....looks like I will see many of you soon....with the Cardinals having a 6 game lead in the standings...
Got it,
John
2 comments:
The word is "Natural Resources". China needs lots, and is getting into Africa in a big way. Uganda has oil on the western edge, and Copper, Cobalt, Limestone, Salt and a small amount of Gold. China needs Oil, Copper, and all the minerals it can find.
First win the hearts and minds, then get the stuff they need. This is the plan all across Africa. Not paranoid, just a fact for every country in the world. They all want to survive into the future, and just have slightly different ways of doing that. US, Them, everyone.
Chinese toilet paper is pretty brutal. That is one thing that I certainly don't miss. Another thing that I didn't miss was the Cubs taking the Cards 2-1 in the series this weekend. I hope that all is well as you wrap up your trip this summer.
Best,
Matt
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