http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/may/05/1

There are many ways of measuring Omar Bongo's rule. You could count
the monuments: the Omar Bongo Triumphal Boulevard, the Senate Palace
Omar Bongo, and the university, football stadium, gymnasium and
military hospital that all bear his name. You could look at a map of
Gabon, and find the name of his hometown, Bongoville, or work out how
many French presidents he has befriended and outlasted: five, from
Charles de Gaulle to Jacques Chirac.

Or you could gaze at any of the dozens of giant billboards dotted
around the capital, Libreville, congratulating "Papa Bongo", who is
pictured with his trademark moustache and his hands clasped together,
for completing 40 years as president in December. Had it been known
that Fidel Castro would step down as Cuba's leader just two months
later, the signwriters would surely have stencilled on the title that
Castro passed on to Bongo: the world's longest-serving leader that
isn't a monarch.

That is no mean achievement, considering Gabon's neighbourhood. Since
gaining independence, most countries in west Africa have experienced
lengthy civil wars or successive military coups. Yet Bongo, who came
to power in 1967 aged 31, has ruled largely unchallenged, and mostly
without force, despite squandering much of the country's natural
wealth and leaving it facing a deeply uncertain economic future.

"The man is a political genius," said Guy Rossatanga-Rignault, a
political science professor at Omar Bongo University. "You think he's
coming near to the end, but it's never the end with Bongo."

Bongo's rule has been a masterclass in the use of patronage. His
ascent to the presidency coincided with Gabon's rise to being
Africa's third-biggest oil producer, and he quickly realised that
money could be more effective than bullets in keeping power.

He built some basic infrastructure in Libreville and, ignoring advice
to establish a road network instead, constructed the $4bn (£2.02bn)
Transgabonais railway line deep into the forested interior.

Petrodollars funded the salaries of a bloated civil service,
spreading enough of the state's wealth among the population to keep
most of them fed and dressed. France, whose companies were happily
extracting Gabon's oil, guaranteed security by maintaining a military
base in Libreville that still exists today.

When multipartyism was ushered in during the early 1990s following
months of unrest, Bongo again found that money could solve any
problem. Opposition politicians who criticised him in public, or
showed any signs of popularity, were brought into the government, and
soon compromised.

"This is Bongo's main secret to remaining in power for 40 years:
corruption," said Mark Ona, the head of Brainforest, a leading NGO
that was recently suspended by the government for speaking out about
the misuse of state funds. "Nobody ever leaves the president's
cabinet empty-handed."

The best cabinet positions, however, have always been reserved for
Bongo's family. His son, Ali-Ben Bongo, is the minister of defence,
and, it is whispered on the streets, the heir apparent. Bongo's
daughter, Pascaline, is the head of the cabinet. Her husband, Paul
Toungui, is minister of finance.

The scale of the high-level cronyism and corruption astonishes
diplomats from other African countries. "In Gabon, government and
business are one and the same," said one. "If you want to do business
here, you must know a minister, or at least somebody with the surname
Bongo."

Indeed, they may be one of the richest first families in the world.
Bongo has a vast hilltop mansion, where passing motorists can view
ostriches roaming the gardens and a couple of Rolls-Royces.

Most of his wealth is hidden overseas. In the 90s, US investigators
found that more than $100m had passed through US bank accounts linked
to Bongo, while in France it was alleged he had received tens of
millions of dollars in kickbacks from the oil company Elf.

Last year, French prosecutors found the Bongo family owned 33
properties in France alone, including a $27m villa. At the same time,
Ali-Ben Bongo's wife, Inge, appeared on a US reality television show,
Really Rich Real Estate, shopping for a $25m mansion in California.

The theft of billions of dollars of oil money has stalled the
country's development. Nearly 50 years after independence, Gabon has
fewer miles of paved road than it has of oil pipelines.

Even within Libreville - which can seem deceptively well-off if you
keep to the seaboard, with its hotels, casinos and patisseries - the
lack of infrastructure is glaringly obvious. Many houses are
connected by tiny footpaths filled with rubbish and tangles of
hosepipes that serve as the mains water supply.

There is a serious shortage of schools and clinics. On paper, Gabon
has one of the highest per-capita incomes in Africa, yet half of the
population remains poor.

Paskhal Nkoulou Nguema of the Bongo Must Go political party, said
that Gabon, with its small population of 1.3 million and its vast
natural riches, should be like Dubai. "Bongo has somehow put in the
mind of all Gabonese that this is the best place in Africa, the
richest country that everybody wants to visit. He is like
Machiavelli."

It is true that many Gabonese are proud of their country, and of
Bongo. His success in keeping peace in a country with 40 different
ethnic groups, while neighbouring countries have all experienced
serious strife, is regarded as a significant accomplishment. But
there is growing worry about what sort of legacy he will leave.
Gabon's oil, which still provides the vast bulk of government
revenue, is fast running out.

Gabon produces some sugar, beer and bottled water. Despite the rich
soil and tropical climate, there is only a tiny amount of
agricultural production. Fruit and vegetables arrive on trucks from
Cameroon. Milk is flown in from France.

And years of dependence on relatives with civil service jobs means
that many Gabonese have no interest in seeking work outside the state
sector - most manual jobs are taken by immigrants.

"I love the president; he is our father, our chief," said Louis
Gaston Mayila, a wealthy lawyer, and a former top government
minister. "But stability is not enough. Our world is changing, and we
need to look to the future."

A future without Bongo? Shortly after winning the 2005 election,
Bongo quashed any public talk of succession by saying that he would
run again in 2012. "The best is yet to come," he likes to say.

Hi all,

Thought you might be interested in a new online community i joined on
sustainable development called Development Crossing. Seems like a good
way to network and share ideas/resources, and I'm sure members would
value perspectives from Gabon.

If it's of interest, visit http://www.developmentcrossing.com to join.
All the best,
R

Did you guys hear that the next season of Survivor on CBS will be filmed on
location in
Gabon?


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Talk:Survivor_17

How about that!!!!
Imagine those rookies trying to survive
exotic Gabon for 39 days.  Try not to
giggle to loudly.
Survivor teams are usually based in a
remote, isolated location near water (river
or ocean).  So, where would you put them.
Do you suppose the will have to get gamma
globulin shots and take anti-malarial pills?
Maybe they can seek shelter in a 40 year old
abandoned schoolhouse.

GM



To: gabondiscussion@...: no_reply@...: Mon, 12
May 2008 05:02:16 +0000Subject: [Gabon Discussion] Survivor in Gabon




Did you guys hear that the next season of Survivor on CBS will be filmed on
location in Gabon?http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Talk:Survivor_17






_________________________________________________________________
Stay in touch when you're away with Windows Live Messenger.
http://www.windowslive.com/messenger/overview.html?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_Refresh_mes\
senger_052008

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

http://hollywoodinsider.ew.com/2008/05/jeff-probst-tal.html

Jeff Probst talks about next 'Survivor' location

With Survivor: Micronesia in the books, the reality franchise is now
gearing up for season 17 by going back to Africa. The show will be
setting up shop on the continent's west coast in the country of
Gabon. "I didn't know where it was," confesses host Jeff Probst. "I
had to look it up on a map. It is probably the most remote place we
have ever gone." What does that mean in terms of wildlife? "We don't
know," Probst says. "No one's really ever hung out there. We're going
to leave a boma with some sticks and stuff, and the contestants will
be given instructions that they need to finish it since we're a
little concerned because it's so unknown. In Kenya [season 3], we had
armed guards everywhere so that if something did happen, we could
take care of it. We're not gonna have that because they're telling us
it is so remote and will probably be remote forever. But a gorilla
could wander into camp." (You mean, Joel from Micronesia?)

Season 17 marks another big change for Survivor in that it will be
the first time the show has been shot in high definition. "Survivor
is one of those shows that you want to see in HD," says Probst, while
noting that the scenery will look a lot more stunning than the
stranded contestants, "People with bug bites are gonna look worse,
people that don't have great bodies are gonna look worse, and people
who are really attractive are probably gonna look… worse." And what
about you, Jeff? "I went through every scenario: Is there any way I
can wear makeup? Is there any way I could not shoot in the middle of
the day? And the answers are all no. I've just come to terms with
it."

Survivor: Gabon—Earth's Last Eden begins filming in late June and
will air in September on CBS.




















--- In gabondiscussion@yahoogroups.com, Gary Marsh <garymmarsh@...>
wrote:
>
>
> How about that!!!!
> Imagine those rookies trying to survive
> exotic Gabon for 39 days.  Try not to
> giggle to loudly.
> Survivor teams are usually based in a
> remote, isolated location near water (river
> or ocean).  So, where would you put them.
> Do you suppose the will have to get gamma
> globulin shots and take anti-malarial pills?
> Maybe they can seek shelter in a 40 year old
> abandoned schoolhouse.
>
> GM
>
>
>
> To: gabondiscussion@...: no_reply@...: Mon, 12 May 2008 05:02:16
+0000Subject: [Gabon Discussion] Survivor in Gabon
>
>
>
>
> Did you guys hear that the next season of Survivor on CBS will be
filmed on location in Gabon?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Talk:Survivor_17
>
>
>
>
>
>
> _________________________________________________________________
> Stay in touch when you're away with Windows Live Messenger.
> http://www.windowslive.com/messenger/overview.html?
ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_Refresh_messenger_052008
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>

Hello all,

Survivor: May I suggest Makongonio forest?
Rumor has it nobody ever walked out of there alive--time to test the myth.

Thanks for sharing the link.

-Francois


----- Message d'origine ----
De : bobutne <bobutne@...>
À : gabondiscussion@yahoogroups.com
Envoyé le : Lundi, 12 Mai 2008, 20h01mn 39s
Objet : Re: [Gabon Discussion] Survivor in Gabon

                 http://hollywoodins ider.ew.com/ 2008/05/jeff- probst-tal. html

Jeff Probst talks about next 'Survivor' location

With Survivor: Micronesia in the books, the reality franchise is now
gearing up for season 17 by going back to Africa. The show will be
setting up shop on the continent's west coast in the country of
Gabon. "I didn't know where it was," confesses host Jeff Probst. "I
had to look it up on a map. It is probably the most remote place we
have ever gone." What does that mean in terms of wildlife? "We don't
know," Probst says. "No one's really ever hung out there. We're going
to leave a boma with some sticks and stuff, and the contestants will
be given instructions that they need to finish it since we're a
little concerned because it's so unknown. In Kenya [season 3], we had
armed guards everywhere so that if something did happen, we could
take care of it. We're not gonna have that because they're telling us
it is so remote and will probably be remote forever. But a gorilla
could wander into camp." (You mean, Joel from Micronesia?)

Season 17 marks another big change for Survivor in that it will be
the first time the show has been shot in high definition. "Survivor
is one of those shows that you want to see in HD," says Probst, while
noting that the scenery will look a lot more stunning than the
stranded contestants, "People with bug bites are gonna look worse,
people that don't have great bodies are gonna look worse, and people
who are really attractive are probably gonna look… worse." And what
about you, Jeff? "I went through every scenario: Is there any way I
can wear makeup? Is there any way I could not shoot in the middle of
the day? And the answers are all no. I've just come to terms with
it."

Survivor: Gabon—Earth's Last Eden begins filming in late June and
will air in September on CBS.

--- In gabondiscussion@ yahoogroups. com, Gary Marsh <garymmarsh@ ...>
wrote:
>
>
> How about that!!!!
> Imagine those rookies trying to survive
> exotic Gabon for 39 days.  Try not to
> giggle to loudly.
> Survivor teams are usually based in a
> remote, isolated location near water (river
> or ocean).  So, where would you put them.
> Do you suppose the will have to get gamma
> globulin shots and take anti-malarial pills?
> Maybe they can seek shelter in a 40 year old
> abandoned schoolhouse.
>
> GM
>
>
>
> To: gabondiscussion@ ...: no_reply@... : Mon, 12 May 2008 05:02:16
+0000Subject: [Gabon Discussion] Survivor in Gabon
>
>
>
>
> Did you guys hear that the next season of Survivor on CBS will be
filmed on location in Gabon?
http://en.wikipedia .org/wiki/ Talk:Survivor_ 17
>
>
>
>
>
>
> ____________ _________ _________ _________ _________ _________ _
> Stay in touch when you're away with Windows Live Messenger.
> http://www.windowsl ive.com/messenge r/overview. html?
ocid=TXT_TAGLM_ WL_Refresh_ messenger_ 052008
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>




<!--

#ygrp-mkp{
border:1px solid #d8d8d8;font-family:Arial;margin:14px 0px;padding:0px 14px;}
#ygrp-mkp hr{
border:1px solid #d8d8d8;}
#ygrp-mkp #hd{
color:#628c2a;font-size:85%;font-weight:bold;line-height:122%;margin:10px 0px;}
#ygrp-mkp #ads{
margin-bottom:10px;}
#ygrp-mkp .ad{
padding:0 0;}
#ygrp-mkp .ad a{
color:#0000ff;text-decoration:none;}
-->

<!--

#ygrp-sponsor #ygrp-lc{
font-family:Arial;}
#ygrp-sponsor #ygrp-lc #hd{
margin:10px 0px;font-weight:bold;font-size:78%;line-height:122%;}
#ygrp-sponsor #ygrp-lc .ad{
margin-bottom:10px;padding:0 0;}
-->

<!--

	 #ygrp-mlmsg {font-size:13px;font-family:arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif;}
#ygrp-mlmsg table {font-size:inherit;font:100%;}
#ygrp-mlmsg select, input, textarea {font:99% arial, helvetica, clean,
sans-serif;}
#ygrp-mlmsg pre, code {font:115% monospace;}
#ygrp-mlmsg * {line-height:1.22em;}
#ygrp-text{
font-family:Georgia;
}
#ygrp-text p{
margin:0 0 1em 0;}
#ygrp-tpmsgs{
font-family:Arial;
clear:both;}
#ygrp-vitnav{
padding-top:10px;font-family:Verdana;font-size:77%;margin:0;}
#ygrp-vitnav a{
padding:0 1px;}
#ygrp-actbar{
clear:both;margin:25px 0;white-space:nowrap;color:#666;text-align:right;}
#ygrp-actbar .left{
float:left;white-space:nowrap;}
.bld{font-weight:bold;}
#ygrp-grft{
font-family:Verdana;font-size:77%;padding:15px 0;}
#ygrp-ft{
font-family:verdana;font-size:77%;border-top:1px solid #666;
padding:5px 0;
}
#ygrp-mlmsg #logo{
padding-bottom:10px;}

#ygrp-reco {
margin-bottom:20px;padding:0px;}
#ygrp-reco #reco-head {
font-weight:bold;color:#ff7900;}

#reco-grpname{
font-weight:bold;margin-top:10px;}
#reco-category{
font-size:77%;}
#reco-desc{
font-size:77%;}

#ygrp-vital{
background-color:#e0ecee;margin-bottom:20px;padding:2px 0 8px 8px;}
#ygrp-vital #vithd{
font-size:77%;font-family:Verdana;font-weight:bold;color:#333;text-transform:upp\
ercase;}
#ygrp-vital ul{
padding:0;margin:2px 0;}
#ygrp-vital ul li{
list-style-type:none;clear:both;border:1px solid #e0ecee;
}
#ygrp-vital ul li .ct{
font-weight:bold;color:#ff7900;float:right;width:2em;text-align:right;padding-ri\
ght:.5em;}
#ygrp-vital ul li .cat{
font-weight:bold;}
#ygrp-vital a{
text-decoration:none;}

#ygrp-vital a:hover{
text-decoration:underline;}

#ygrp-sponsor #hd{
color:#999;font-size:77%;}
#ygrp-sponsor #ov{
padding:6px 13px;background-color:#e0ecee;margin-bottom:20px;}
#ygrp-sponsor #ov ul{
padding:0 0 0 8px;margin:0;}
#ygrp-sponsor #ov li{
list-style-type:square;padding:6px 0;font-size:77%;}
#ygrp-sponsor #ov li a{
text-decoration:none;font-size:130%;}
#ygrp-sponsor #nc{
background-color:#eee;margin-bottom:20px;padding:0 8px;}
#ygrp-sponsor .ad{
padding:8px 0;}
#ygrp-sponsor .ad #hd1{
font-family:Arial;font-weight:bold;color:#628c2a;font-size:100%;line-height:122%\
;}
#ygrp-sponsor .ad a{
text-decoration:none;}
#ygrp-sponsor .ad a:hover{
text-decoration:underline;}
#ygrp-sponsor .ad p{
margin:0;}
o{font-size:0;}
.MsoNormal{
margin:0 0 0 0;}
#ygrp-text tt{
font-size:120%;}
blockquote{margin:0 0 0 4px;}
.replbq{margin:4;}
-->





__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
En finir avec le spam? Yahoo! Mail vous offre la meilleure protection possible
contre les messages non sollicités
http://mail.yahoo.fr Yahoo! Mail

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

My bet is somewhere in Loango National Park.

http://www.africas-
eden.com/destinations/gabon_loango_national_park.html

Loango offers remote beach areas so players will hike ratings when
dressed in skimpy bikinis, etc.. Also,look for shots of "surfing
hippos" and beach-side elephants. Don't know how they will play the
gorilla shots. Interesting that this is the first Survivor series
shot in high definition. Also, smart move to shoot in late June. End
of rainy season with best weather of the year.


--- In gabondiscussion@yahoogroups.com, François Gouahinga
<gouaf@...> wrote:
>
> Hello all,
>
> Survivor: May I suggest Makongonio forest?
> Rumor has it nobody ever walked out of there alive--time to test
the myth.
>
> Thanks for sharing the link.
>
> -Francois
>
>
> ----- Message d'origine ----
> De : bobutne <bobutne@...>
> À : gabondiscussion@yahoogroups.com
> Envoyé le : Lundi, 12 Mai 2008, 20h01mn 39s
> Objet : Re: [Gabon Discussion] Survivor in Gabon
>
>                 http://hollywoodins ider.ew.com/ 2008/05/jeff-
probst-tal. html
>
> Jeff Probst talks about next 'Survivor' location
>
> With Survivor: Micronesia in the books, the reality franchise is
now
> gearing up for season 17 by going back to Africa. The show will be
> setting up shop on the continent's west coast in the country of
> Gabon. "I didn't know where it was," confesses host Jeff Probst. "I
> had to look it up on a map. It is probably the most remote place we
> have ever gone." What does that mean in terms of wildlife? "We
don't
> know," Probst says. "No one's really ever hung out there. We're
going
> to leave a boma with some sticks and stuff, and the contestants
will
> be given instructions that they need to finish it since we're a
> little concerned because it's so unknown. In Kenya [season 3], we
had
> armed guards everywhere so that if something did happen, we could
> take care of it. We're not gonna have that because they're telling
us
> it is so remote and will probably be remote forever. But a gorilla
> could wander into camp." (You mean, Joel from Micronesia?)
>
> Season 17 marks another big change for Survivor in that it will be
> the first time the show has been shot in high definition. "Survivor
> is one of those shows that you want to see in HD," says Probst,
while
> noting that the scenery will look a lot more stunning than the
> stranded contestants, "People with bug bites are gonna look worse,
> people that don't have great bodies are gonna look worse, and
people
> who are really attractive are probably gonna look… worse." And what
> about you, Jeff? "I went through every scenario: Is there any way I
> can wear makeup? Is there any way I could not shoot in the middle
of
> the day? And the answers are all no. I've just come to terms with
> it."
>
> Survivor: Gabon—Earth's Last Eden begins filming in late June and
> will air in September on CBS.
>
> --- In gabondiscussion@ yahoogroups. com, Gary Marsh
<garymmarsh@ ...>
> wrote:
> >
> >
> > How about that!!!!
> > Imagine those rookies trying to survive
> > exotic Gabon for 39 days.  Try not to
> > giggle to loudly.
> > Survivor teams are usually based in a
> > remote, isolated location near water (river
> > or ocean).  So, where would you put them.
> > Do you suppose the will have to get gamma
> > globulin shots and take anti-malarial pills?
> > Maybe they can seek shelter in a 40 year old
> > abandoned schoolhouse.
> >
> > GM
> >
> >
> >
> > To: gabondiscussion@ ...: no_reply@ : Mon, 12 May 2008 05:02:16
> +0000Subject: [Gabon Discussion] Survivor in Gabon
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > Did you guys hear that the next season of Survivor on CBS will be
> filmed on location in Gabon?
> http://en.wikipedia .org/wiki/ Talk:Survivor_ 17
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > ____________ _________ _________ _________ _________ _________ _
> > Stay in touch when you're away with Windows Live Messenger.
> > http://www.windowsl ive.com/messenge r/overview. html?
> ocid=TXT_TAGLM_ WL_Refresh_ messenger_ 052008
> >
> > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
> >
>
>
>
>
> <!--
>
> #ygrp-mkp{
> border:1px solid #d8d8d8;font-family:Arial;margin:14px
0px;padding:0px 14px;}
> #ygrp-mkp hr{
> border:1px solid #d8d8d8;}
> #ygrp-mkp #hd{
> color:#628c2a;font-size:85%;font-weight:bold;line-
height:122%;margin:10px 0px;}
> #ygrp-mkp #ads{
> margin-bottom:10px;}
> #ygrp-mkp .ad{
> padding:0 0;}
> #ygrp-mkp .ad a{
> color:#0000ff;text-decoration:none;}
> -->
>
> <!--
>
> #ygrp-sponsor #ygrp-lc{
> font-family:Arial;}
> #ygrp-sponsor #ygrp-lc #hd{
> margin:10px 0px;font-weight:bold;font-size:78%;line-height:122%;}
> #ygrp-sponsor #ygrp-lc .ad{
> margin-bottom:10px;padding:0 0;}
> -->
>
> <!--
>
>  #ygrp-mlmsg {font-size:13px;font-family:arial, helvetica,
clean, sans-serif;}
> #ygrp-mlmsg table {font-size:inherit;font:100%;}
> #ygrp-mlmsg select, input, textarea {font:99% arial, helvetica,
clean, sans-serif;}
> #ygrp-mlmsg pre, code {font:115% monospace;}
> #ygrp-mlmsg * {line-height:1.22em;}
> #ygrp-text{
> font-family:Georgia;
> }
> #ygrp-text p{
> margin:0 0 1em 0;}
> #ygrp-tpmsgs{
> font-family:Arial;
> clear:both;}
> #ygrp-vitnav{
> padding-top:10px;font-family:Verdana;font-size:77%;margin:0;}
> #ygrp-vitnav a{
> padding:0 1px;}
> #ygrp-actbar{
> clear:both;margin:25px 0;white-space:nowrap;color:#666;text-
align:right;}
> #ygrp-actbar .left{
> float:left;white-space:nowrap;}
> .bld{font-weight:bold;}
> #ygrp-grft{
> font-family:Verdana;font-size:77%;padding:15px 0;}
> #ygrp-ft{
> font-family:verdana;font-size:77%;border-top:1px solid #666;
> padding:5px 0;
> }
> #ygrp-mlmsg #logo{
> padding-bottom:10px;}
>
> #ygrp-reco {
> margin-bottom:20px;padding:0px;}
> #ygrp-reco #reco-head {
> font-weight:bold;color:#ff7900;}
>
> #reco-grpname{
> font-weight:bold;margin-top:10px;}
> #reco-category{
> font-size:77%;}
> #reco-desc{
> font-size:77%;}
>
> #ygrp-vital{
> background-color:#e0ecee;margin-bottom:20px;padding:2px 0 8px 8px;}
> #ygrp-vital #vithd{
> font-size:77%;font-family:Verdana;font-weight:bold;color:#333;text-
transform:uppercase;}
> #ygrp-vital ul{
> padding:0;margin:2px 0;}
> #ygrp-vital ul li{
> list-style-type:none;clear:both;border:1px solid #e0ecee;
> }
> #ygrp-vital ul li .ct{
> font-weight:bold;color:#ff7900;float:right;width:2em;text-
align:right;padding-right:.5em;}
> #ygrp-vital ul li .cat{
> font-weight:bold;}
> #ygrp-vital a{
> text-decoration:none;}
>
> #ygrp-vital a:hover{
> text-decoration:underline;}
>
> #ygrp-sponsor #hd{
> color:#999;font-size:77%;}
> #ygrp-sponsor #ov{
> padding:6px 13px;background-color:#e0ecee;margin-bottom:20px;}
> #ygrp-sponsor #ov ul{
> padding:0 0 0 8px;margin:0;}
> #ygrp-sponsor #ov li{
> list-style-type:square;padding:6px 0;font-size:77%;}
> #ygrp-sponsor #ov li a{
> text-decoration:none;font-size:130%;}
> #ygrp-sponsor #nc{
> background-color:#eee;margin-bottom:20px;padding:0 8px;}
> #ygrp-sponsor .ad{
> padding:8px 0;}
> #ygrp-sponsor .ad #hd1{
> font-family:Arial;font-weight:bold;color:#628c2a;font-
size:100%;line-height:122%;}
> #ygrp-sponsor .ad a{
> text-decoration:none;}
> #ygrp-sponsor .ad a:hover{
> text-decoration:underline;}
> #ygrp-sponsor .ad p{
> margin:0;}
> o{font-size:0;}
> .MsoNormal{
> margin:0 0 0 0;}
> #ygrp-text tt{
> font-size:120%;}
> blockquote{margin:0 0 0 4px;}
> .replbq{margin:4;}
> -->
>
>
>
>
>
> __________________________________________________
> Do You Yahoo!?
> En finir avec le spam? Yahoo! Mail vous offre la meilleure
protection possible contre les messages non sollicités
> http://mail.yahoo.fr Yahoo! Mail
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>

This would have been a great spot, but there are still
too many villages for Survivor.  Rumor has it that
they will likely be filming in the Wonga-Wongue
Presidential Reserve between LBV and POG, where there
are virtually no villages.


--- bobutne <bobutne@...> wrote:

> My bet is somewhere in Loango National Park.
>
> http://www.africas-
>
eden.com/destinations/gabon_loango_national_park.html
>
> Loango offers remote beach areas so players will
> hike ratings when
> dressed in skimpy bikinis, etc.. Also,look for shots
> of "surfing
> hippos" and beach-side elephants. Don't know how
> they will play the
> gorilla shots. Interesting that this is the first
> Survivor series
> shot in high definition. Also, smart move to shoot
> in late June. End
> of rainy season with best weather of the year.
>
>
> --- In gabondiscussion@yahoogroups.com, François
> Gouahinga
> <gouaf@...> wrote:
> >
> > Hello all,
> >
> > Survivor: May I suggest Makongonio forest?
> > Rumor has it nobody ever walked out of there
> alive--time to test
> the myth.
> >
> > Thanks for sharing the link.
> >
> > -Francois
> >
> >
> > ----- Message d'origine ----
> > De : bobutne <bobutne@...>
> > À : gabondiscussion@yahoogroups.com
> > Envoyé le : Lundi, 12 Mai 2008, 20h01mn 39s
> > Objet : Re: [Gabon Discussion] Survivor in Gabon
> >
> >                 http://hollywoodins ider.ew.com/
> 2008/05/jeff-
> probst-tal. html
> >
> > Jeff Probst talks about next 'Survivor' location
> >
> > With Survivor: Micronesia in the books, the
> reality franchise is
> now
> > gearing up for season 17 by going back to Africa.
> The show will be
> > setting up shop on the continent's west coast in
> the country of
> > Gabon. "I didn't know where it was," confesses
> host Jeff Probst. "I
> > had to look it up on a map. It is probably the
> most remote place we
> > have ever gone." What does that mean in terms of
> wildlife? "We
> don't
> > know," Probst says. "No one's really ever hung out
> there. We're
> going
> > to leave a boma with some sticks and stuff, and
> the contestants
> will
> > be given instructions that they need to finish it
> since we're a
> > little concerned because it's so unknown. In Kenya
> [season 3], we
> had
> > armed guards everywhere so that if something did
> happen, we could
> > take care of it. We're not gonna have that because
> they're telling
> us
> > it is so remote and will probably be remote
> forever. But a gorilla
> > could wander into camp." (You mean, Joel from
> Micronesia?)
> >
> > Season 17 marks another big change for Survivor in
> that it will be
> > the first time the show has been shot in high
> definition. "Survivor
> > is one of those shows that you want to see in HD,"
> says Probst,
> while
> > noting that the scenery will look a lot more
> stunning than the
> > stranded contestants, "People with bug bites are
> gonna look worse,
> > people that don't have great bodies are gonna look
> worse, and
> people
> > who are really attractive are probably gonna look…
> worse." And what
> > about you, Jeff? "I went through every scenario:
> Is there any way I
> > can wear makeup? Is there any way I could not
> shoot in the middle
> of
> > the day? And the answers are all no. I've just
> come to terms with
> > it."
> >
> > Survivor: Gabon—Earth's Last Eden begins filming
> in late June and
> > will air in September on CBS.
> >
> > --- In gabondiscussion@ yahoogroups. com, Gary
> Marsh
> <garymmarsh@ ...>
> > wrote:
> > >
> > >
> > > How about that!!!!
> > > Imagine those rookies trying to survive
> > > exotic Gabon for 39 days.  Try not to
> > > giggle to loudly.
> > > Survivor teams are usually based in a
> > > remote, isolated location near water (river
> > > or ocean).  So, where would you put them.
> > > Do you suppose the will have to get gamma
> > > globulin shots and take anti-malarial pills?
> > > Maybe they can seek shelter in a 40 year old
> > > abandoned schoolhouse.
> > >
> > > GM
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > To: gabondiscussion@ ...: no_reply@ : Mon, 12
> May 2008 05:02:16
> > +0000Subject: [Gabon Discussion] Survivor in Gabon
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > Did you guys hear that the next season of
> Survivor on CBS will be
> > filmed on location in Gabon?
> > http://en.wikipedia .org/wiki/ Talk:Survivor_ 17
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > ____________ _________ _________ _________
> _________ _________ _
> > > Stay in touch when you're away with Windows Live
> Messenger.
> > > http://www.windowsl ive.com/messenge r/overview.
> html?
> > ocid=TXT_TAGLM_ WL_Refresh_ messenger_ 052008
> > >
> > > [Non-text portions of this message have been
> removed]
> > >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > <!--
> >
> > #ygrp-mkp{
> > border:1px solid
> #d8d8d8;font-family:Arial;margin:14px
> 0px;padding:0px 14px;}
> > #ygrp-mkp hr{
> > border:1px solid #d8d8d8;}
> > #ygrp-mkp #hd{
> > color:#628c2a;font-size:85%;font-weight:bold;line-
> height:122%;margin:10px 0px;}
> > #ygrp-mkp #ads{
> > margin-bottom:10px;}
> > #ygrp-mkp .ad{
> > padding:0 0;}
> > #ygrp-mkp .ad a{
> > color:#0000ff;text-decoration:none;}
> > -->
> >
> > <!--
> >
> > #ygrp-sponsor #ygrp-lc{
> > font-family:Arial;}
> > #ygrp-sponsor #ygrp-lc #hd{
> > margin:10px
>
0px;font-weight:bold;font-size:78%;line-height:122%;}
> > #ygrp-sponsor #ygrp-lc .ad{
> > margin-bottom:10px;padding:0 0;}
> > -->
> >
> > <!--
> >
> >  #ygrp-mlmsg {font-size:13px;font-family:arial,
> helvetica,
> clean, sans-serif;}
> > #ygrp-mlmsg table {font-size:inherit;font:100%;}
> > #ygrp-mlmsg select, input, textarea {font:99%
> arial,
=== message truncated ===



      
________________________________________________________________________________\
____
Be a better friend, newshound, and
know-it-all with Yahoo! Mobile.  Try it now. 
http://mobile.yahoo.com/;_ylt=Ahu06i62sR8HDtDypao8Wcj9tAcJ

In which province is that forest, Francois?

Maybe they could have it in the Foret des Abeilles...


-----Original Message-----
From: gabondiscussion@yahoogroups.com on behalf of François Gouahinga
Sent: Mon 5/12/2008 8:38 PM
To: gabondiscussion@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re : [Gabon Discussion] Survivor in Gabon

Hello all,

Survivor: May I suggest Makongonio forest?
Rumor has it nobody ever walked out of there alive--time to test the myth.

Thanks for sharing the link.

-Francois


----- Message d'origine ----
De : bobutne <bobutne@...>
À : gabondiscussion@yahoogroups.com
Envoyé le : Lundi, 12 Mai 2008, 20h01mn 39s
Objet : Re: [Gabon Discussion] Survivor in Gabon

                 http://hollywoodins ider.ew.com/ 2008/05/jeff- probst-tal. html

Jeff Probst talks about next 'Survivor' location

With Survivor: Micronesia in the books, the reality franchise is now
gearing up for season 17 by going back to Africa. The show will be
setting up shop on the continent's west coast in the country of
Gabon. "I didn't know where it was," confesses host Jeff Probst. "I
had to look it up on a map. It is probably the most remote place we
have ever gone." What does that mean in terms of wildlife? "We don't
know," Probst says. "No one's really ever hung out there. We're going
to leave a boma with some sticks and stuff, and the contestants will
be given instructions that they need to finish it since we're a
little concerned because it's so unknown. In Kenya [season 3], we had
armed guards everywhere so that if something did happen, we could
take care of it. We're not gonna have that because they're telling us
it is so remote and will probably be remote forever. But a gorilla
could wander into camp." (You mean, Joel from Micronesia?)

Season 17 marks another big change for Survivor in that it will be
the first time the show has been shot in high definition. "Survivor
is one of those shows that you want to see in HD," says Probst, while
noting that the scenery will look a lot more stunning than the
stranded contestants, "People with bug bites are gonna look worse,
people that don't have great bodies are gonna look worse, and people
who are really attractive are probably gonna look. worse." And what
about you, Jeff? "I went through every scenario: Is there any way I
can wear makeup? Is there any way I could not shoot in the middle of
the day? And the answers are all no. I've just come to terms with
it."

Survivor: Gabon-Earth's Last Eden begins filming in late June and
will air in September on CBS.

--- In gabondiscussion@ yahoogroups. com, Gary Marsh <garymmarsh@ ...>
wrote:
>
>
> How about that!!!!
> Imagine those rookies trying to survive
> exotic Gabon for 39 days.  Try not to
> giggle to loudly.
> Survivor teams are usually based in a
> remote, isolated location near water (river
> or ocean).  So, where would you put them.
> Do you suppose the will have to get gamma
> globulin shots and take anti-malarial pills?
> Maybe they can seek shelter in a 40 year old
> abandoned schoolhouse.
>
> GM
>
>
>
> To: gabondiscussion@ ...: no_reply@... : Mon, 12 May 2008 05:02:16
+0000Subject: [Gabon Discussion] Survivor in Gabon
>
>
>
>
> Did you guys hear that the next season of Survivor on CBS will be
filmed on location in Gabon?
http://en.wikipedia .org/wiki/ Talk:Survivor_ 17
>
>
>
>
>
>
> ____________ _________ _________ _________ _________ _________ _
> Stay in touch when you're away with Windows Live Messenger.
> http://www.windowsl ive.com/messenge r/overview. html?
ocid=TXT_TAGLM_ WL_Refresh_ messenger_ 052008
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>




<!--

#ygrp-mkp{
border:1px solid #d8d8d8;font-family:Arial;margin:14px 0px;padding:0px 14px;}
#ygrp-mkp hr{
border:1px solid #d8d8d8;}
#ygrp-mkp #hd{
color:#628c2a;font-size:85%;font-weight:bold;line-height:122%;margin:10px 0px;}
#ygrp-mkp #ads{
margin-bottom:10px;}
#ygrp-mkp .ad{
padding:0 0;}
#ygrp-mkp .ad a{
color:#0000ff;text-decoration:none;}
-->

<!--

#ygrp-sponsor #ygrp-lc{
font-family:Arial;}
#ygrp-sponsor #ygrp-lc #hd{
margin:10px 0px;font-weight:bold;font-size:78%;line-height:122%;}
#ygrp-sponsor #ygrp-lc .ad{
margin-bottom:10px;padding:0 0;}
-->

<!--

	 #ygrp-mlmsg {font-size:13px;font-family:arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif;}
#ygrp-mlmsg table {font-size:inherit;font:100%;}
#ygrp-mlmsg select, input, textarea {font:99% arial, helvetica, clean,
sans-serif;}
#ygrp-mlmsg pre, code {font:115% monospace;}
#ygrp-mlmsg * {line-height:1.22em;}
#ygrp-text{
font-family:Georgia;
}
#ygrp-text p{
margin:0 0 1em 0;}
#ygrp-tpmsgs{
font-family:Arial;
clear:both;}
#ygrp-vitnav{
padding-top:10px;font-family:Verdana;font-size:77%;margin:0;}
#ygrp-vitnav a{
padding:0 1px;}
#ygrp-actbar{
clear:both;margin:25px 0;white-space:nowrap;color:#666;text-align:right;}
#ygrp-actbar .left{
float:left;white-space:nowrap;}
.bld{font-weight:bold;}
#ygrp-grft{
font-family:Verdana;font-size:77%;padding:15px 0;}
#ygrp-ft{
font-family:verdana;font-size:77%;border-top:1px solid #666;
padding:5px 0;
}
#ygrp-mlmsg #logo{
padding-bottom:10px;}

#ygrp-reco {
margin-bottom:20px;padding:0px;}
#ygrp-reco #reco-head {
font-weight:bold;color:#ff7900;}

#reco-grpname{
font-weight:bold;margin-top:10px;}
#reco-category{
font-size:77%;}
#reco-desc{
font-size:77%;}

#ygrp-vital{
background-color:#e0ecee;margin-bottom:20px;padding:2px 0 8px 8px;}
#ygrp-vital #vithd{
font-size:77%;font-family:Verdana;font-weight:bold;color:#333;text-transform:upp\
ercase;}
#ygrp-vital ul{
padding:0;margin:2px 0;}
#ygrp-vital ul li{
list-style-type:none;clear:both;border:1px solid #e0ecee;
}
#ygrp-vital ul li .ct{
font-weight:bold;color:#ff7900;float:right;width:2em;text-align:right;padding-ri\
ght:.5em;}
#ygrp-vital ul li .cat{
font-weight:bold;}
#ygrp-vital a{
text-decoration:none;}

#ygrp-vital a:hover{
text-decoration:underline;}

#ygrp-sponsor #hd{
color:#999;font-size:77%;}
#ygrp-sponsor #ov{
padding:6px 13px;background-color:#e0ecee;margin-bottom:20px;}
#ygrp-sponsor #ov ul{
padding:0 0 0 8px;margin:0;}
#ygrp-sponsor #ov li{
list-style-type:square;padding:6px 0;font-size:77%;}
#ygrp-sponsor #ov li a{
text-decoration:none;font-size:130%;}
#ygrp-sponsor #nc{
background-color:#eee;margin-bottom:20px;padding:0 8px;}
#ygrp-sponsor .ad{
padding:8px 0;}
#ygrp-sponsor .ad #hd1{
font-family:Arial;font-weight:bold;color:#628c2a;font-size:100%;line-height:122%\
;}
#ygrp-sponsor .ad a{
text-decoration:none;}
#ygrp-sponsor .ad a:hover{
text-decoration:underline;}
#ygrp-sponsor .ad p{
margin:0;}
o{font-size:0;}
.MsoNormal{
margin:0 0 0 0;}
#ygrp-text tt{
font-size:120%;}
blockquote{margin:0 0 0 4px;}
.replbq{margin:4;}
-->





__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
En finir avec le spam? Yahoo! Mail vous offre la meilleure protection possible
contre les messages non sollicités
http://mail.yahoo.fr Yahoo! Mail

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]




[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

I heard it was going to be near Pointe Dennis... but I heard this awhile ago,
like during the
summer...


--- In gabondiscussion@yahoogroups.com, "Darcy Meijer" <darcy.meijer@...> wrote:
>
> In which province is that forest, Francois?
>
> Maybe they could have it in the Foret des Abeilles...
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: gabondiscussion@yahoogroups.com on behalf of François Gouahinga
> Sent: Mon 5/12/2008 8:38 PM
> To: gabondiscussion@yahoogroups.com
> Subject: Re : [Gabon Discussion] Survivor in Gabon
>
> Hello all,
>
> Survivor: May I suggest Makongonio forest?
> Rumor has it nobody ever walked out of there alive--time to test the myth.
>
> Thanks for sharing the link.
>
> -Francois
>
>
> ----- Message d'origine ----
> De : bobutne <bobutne@...>
> À : gabondiscussion@yahoogroups.com
> Envoyé le : Lundi, 12 Mai 2008, 20h01mn 39s
> Objet : Re: [Gabon Discussion] Survivor in Gabon
>
>                 http://hollywoodins ider.ew.com/ 2008/05/jeff- probst-tal.
html
>
> Jeff Probst talks about next 'Survivor' location
>
> With Survivor: Micronesia in the books, the reality franchise is now
> gearing up for season 17 by going back to Africa. The show will be
> setting up shop on the continent's west coast in the country of
> Gabon. "I didn't know where it was," confesses host Jeff Probst. "I
> had to look it up on a map. It is probably the most remote place we
> have ever gone." What does that mean in terms of wildlife? "We don't
> know," Probst says. "No one's really ever hung out there. We're going
> to leave a boma with some sticks and stuff, and the contestants will
> be given instructions that they need to finish it since we're a
> little concerned because it's so unknown. In Kenya [season 3], we had
> armed guards everywhere so that if something did happen, we could
> take care of it. We're not gonna have that because they're telling us
> it is so remote and will probably be remote forever. But a gorilla
> could wander into camp." (You mean, Joel from Micronesia?)
>
> Season 17 marks another big change for Survivor in that it will be
> the first time the show has been shot in high definition. "Survivor
> is one of those shows that you want to see in HD," says Probst, while
> noting that the scenery will look a lot more stunning than the
> stranded contestants, "People with bug bites are gonna look worse,
> people that don't have great bodies are gonna look worse, and people
> who are really attractive are probably gonna look. worse." And what
> about you, Jeff? "I went through every scenario: Is there any way I
> can wear makeup? Is there any way I could not shoot in the middle of
> the day? And the answers are all no. I've just come to terms with
> it."
>
> Survivor: Gabon-Earth's Last Eden begins filming in late June and
> will air in September on CBS.
>
> --- In gabondiscussion@ yahoogroups. com, Gary Marsh <garymmarsh@ ...>
> wrote:
> >
> >
> > How about that!!!!
> > Imagine those rookies trying to survive
> > exotic Gabon for 39 days.  Try not to
> > giggle to loudly.
> > Survivor teams are usually based in a
> > remote, isolated location near water (river
> > or ocean).  So, where would you put them.
> > Do you suppose the will have to get gamma
> > globulin shots and take anti-malarial pills?
> > Maybe they can seek shelter in a 40 year old
> > abandoned schoolhouse.
> >
> > GM
> >
> >
> >
> > To: gabondiscussion@ ...: no_reply@ : Mon, 12 May 2008 05:02:16
> +0000Subject: [Gabon Discussion] Survivor in Gabon
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > Did you guys hear that the next season of Survivor on CBS will be
> filmed on location in Gabon?
> http://en.wikipedia .org/wiki/ Talk:Survivor_ 17
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > ____________ _________ _________ _________ _________ _________ _
> > Stay in touch when you're away with Windows Live Messenger.
> > http://www.windowsl ive.com/messenge r/overview. html?
> ocid=TXT_TAGLM_ WL_Refresh_ messenger_ 052008
> >
> > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
> >
>
>
>
>
> <!--
>
> #ygrp-mkp{
> border:1px solid #d8d8d8;font-family:Arial;margin:14px 0px;padding:0px 14px;}
> #ygrp-mkp hr{
> border:1px solid #d8d8d8;}
> #ygrp-mkp #hd{
> color:#628c2a;font-size:85%;font-weight:bold;line-height:122%;margin:10px
0px;}
> #ygrp-mkp #ads{
> margin-bottom:10px;}
> #ygrp-mkp .ad{
> padding:0 0;}
> #ygrp-mkp .ad a{
> color:#0000ff;text-decoration:none;}
> -->
>
> <!--
>
> #ygrp-sponsor #ygrp-lc{
> font-family:Arial;}
> #ygrp-sponsor #ygrp-lc #hd{
> margin:10px 0px;font-weight:bold;font-size:78%;line-height:122%;}
> #ygrp-sponsor #ygrp-lc .ad{
> margin-bottom:10px;padding:0 0;}
> -->
>
> <!--
>
>  #ygrp-mlmsg {font-size:13px;font-family:arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif;}
> #ygrp-mlmsg table {font-size:inherit;font:100%;}
> #ygrp-mlmsg select, input, textarea {font:99% arial, helvetica, clean,
sans-serif;}
> #ygrp-mlmsg pre, code {font:115% monospace;}
> #ygrp-mlmsg * {line-height:1.22em;}
> #ygrp-text{
> font-family:Georgia;
> }
> #ygrp-text p{
> margin:0 0 1em 0;}
> #ygrp-tpmsgs{
> font-family:Arial;
> clear:both;}
> #ygrp-vitnav{
> padding-top:10px;font-family:Verdana;font-size:77%;margin:0;}
> #ygrp-vitnav a{
> padding:0 1px;}
> #ygrp-actbar{
> clear:both;margin:25px 0;white-space:nowrap;color:#666;text-align:right;}
> #ygrp-actbar .left{
> float:left;white-space:nowrap;}
> .bld{font-weight:bold;}
> #ygrp-grft{
> font-family:Verdana;font-size:77%;padding:15px 0;}
> #ygrp-ft{
> font-family:verdana;font-size:77%;border-top:1px solid #666;
> padding:5px 0;
> }
> #ygrp-mlmsg #logo{
> padding-bottom:10px;}
>
> #ygrp-reco {
> margin-bottom:20px;padding:0px;}
> #ygrp-reco #reco-head {
> font-weight:bold;color:#ff7900;}
>
> #reco-grpname{
> font-weight:bold;margin-top:10px;}
> #reco-category{
> font-size:77%;}
> #reco-desc{
> font-size:77%;}
>
> #ygrp-vital{
> background-color:#e0ecee;margin-bottom:20px;padding:2px 0 8px 8px;}
> #ygrp-vital #vithd{
> font-size:77%;font-family:Verdana;font-weight:bold;color:#333;text-
transform:uppercase;}
> #ygrp-vital ul{
> padding:0;margin:2px 0;}
> #ygrp-vital ul li{
> list-style-type:none;clear:both;border:1px solid #e0ecee;
> }
> #ygrp-vital ul li .ct{
> font-weight:bold;color:#ff7900;float:right;width:2em;text-align:right;padding-
right:.5em;}
> #ygrp-vital ul li .cat{
> font-weight:bold;}
> #ygrp-vital a{
> text-decoration:none;}
>
> #ygrp-vital a:hover{
> text-decoration:underline;}
>
> #ygrp-sponsor #hd{
> color:#999;font-size:77%;}
> #ygrp-sponsor #ov{
> padding:6px 13px;background-color:#e0ecee;margin-bottom:20px;}
> #ygrp-sponsor #ov ul{
> padding:0 0 0 8px;margin:0;}
> #ygrp-sponsor #ov li{
> list-style-type:square;padding:6px 0;font-size:77%;}
> #ygrp-sponsor #ov li a{
> text-decoration:none;font-size:130%;}
> #ygrp-sponsor #nc{
> background-color:#eee;margin-bottom:20px;padding:0 8px;}
> #ygrp-sponsor .ad{
> padding:8px 0;}
> #ygrp-sponsor .ad #hd1{
>
font-family:Arial;font-weight:bold;color:#628c2a;font-size:100%;line-height:122%\
;}
> #ygrp-sponsor .ad a{
> text-decoration:none;}
> #ygrp-sponsor .ad a:hover{
> text-decoration:underline;}
> #ygrp-sponsor .ad p{
> margin:0;}
> o{font-size:0;}
> .MsoNormal{
> margin:0 0 0 0;}
> #ygrp-text tt{
> font-size:120%;}
> blockquote{margin:0 0 0 4px;}
> .replbq{margin:4;}
> -->
>
>
>
>
>
> __________________________________________________
> Do You Yahoo!?
> En finir avec le spam? Yahoo! Mail vous offre la meilleure protection possible
contre les
messages non sollicités
> http://mail.yahoo.fr Yahoo! Mail
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
>
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>

No, I stick to forest conservation and related issues.
  But am back and forth to Gabon and so remain in the
rumor mill to some extent!  They are apparently in the
process of shipping an enormous quantity of filming
equipment to Gabon to carry this out...sure to be the
biggest filming event of this sort ever hosted in
Gabon.  But will anyone there ever watch it?

--- bobutne <bobutne@...> wrote:

> Matt, Are you working on/advisor for this project?
>
> http://www.wri.org/profile/matthew-steil
>
>
> --- In gabondiscussion@yahoogroups.com, "bobutne"
> <bobutne@...> wrote:
> >
> > Matt,
> >
> > Makes sense. Survivor could lease a few yachts for
> the crew
> > departing/resupplying from Ovendo and Wongo-Wongue
> Reserve is
> > definitely remote.
> >
> >
>
http://itouchmap.com/?r=w&c=gb&UF=210072&UN=262741&DG=PRK
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > --- In gabondiscussion@yahoogroups.com, matthew
> steil <makeke2@>
> > wrote:
> > >
> > > This would have been a great spot, but there are
> still
> > > too many villages for Survivor.  Rumor has it
> that
> > > they will likely be filming in the Wonga-Wongue
> > > Presidential Reserve between LBV and POG, where
> there
> > > are virtually no villages.
> > >
> > >
> > > --- bobutne <bobutne@> wrote:
> > >
> > > > My bet is somewhere in Loango National Park.
> > > >
> > > > http://www.africas-
> > > >
> > >
>
eden.com/destinations/gabon_loango_national_park.html
> > > >
> > > > Loango offers remote beach areas so players
> will
> > > > hike ratings when
> > > > dressed in skimpy bikinis, etc.. Also,look for
> shots
> > > > of "surfing
> > > > hippos" and beach-side elephants. Don't know
> how
> > > > they will play the
> > > > gorilla shots. Interesting that this is the
> first
> > > > Survivor series
> > > > shot in high definition. Also, smart move to
> shoot
> > > > in late June. End
> > > > of rainy season with best weather of the year.
>
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > --- In gabondiscussion@yahoogroups.com,
> François
> > > > Gouahinga
> > > > <gouaf@> wrote:
> > > > >
> > > > > Hello all,
> > > > >
> > > > > Survivor: May I suggest Makongonio forest?
> > > > > Rumor has it nobody ever walked out of there
> > > > alive--time to test
> > > > the myth.
> > > > >
> > > > > Thanks for sharing the link.
> > > > >
> > > > > -Francois
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > > ----- Message d'origine ----
> > > > > De : bobutne <bobutne@>
> > > > > À : gabondiscussion@yahoogroups.com
> > > > > Envoyé le : Lundi, 12 Mai 2008, 20h01mn 39s
> > > > > Objet : Re: [Gabon Discussion] Survivor in
> Gabon
> > > > >
> > > > >                 http://hollywoodins
> ider.ew.com/
> > > > 2008/05/jeff-
> > > > probst-tal. html
> > > > >
> > > > > Jeff Probst talks about next 'Survivor'
> location
> > > > >
> > > > > With Survivor: Micronesia in the books, the
> > > > reality franchise is
> > > > now
> > > > > gearing up for season 17 by going back to
> Africa.
> > > > The show will be
> > > > > setting up shop on the continent's west
> coast in
> > > > the country of
> > > > > Gabon. "I didn't know where it was,"
> confesses
> > > > host Jeff Probst. "I
> > > > > had to look it up on a map. It is probably
> the
> > > > most remote place we
> > > > > have ever gone." What does that mean in
> terms of
> > > > wildlife? "We
> > > > don't
> > > > > know," Probst says. "No one's really ever
> hung out
> > > > there. We're
> > > > going
> > > > > to leave a boma with some sticks and stuff,
> and
> > > > the contestants
> > > > will
> > > > > be given instructions that they need to
> finish it
> > > > since we're a
> > > > > little concerned because it's so unknown. In
> Kenya
> > > > [season 3], we
> > > > had
> > > > > armed guards everywhere so that if something
> did
> > > > happen, we could
> > > > > take care of it. We're not gonna have that
> because
> > > > they're telling
> > > > us
> > > > > it is so remote and will probably be remote
> > > > forever. But a gorilla
> > > > > could wander into camp." (You mean, Joel
> from
> > > > Micronesia?)
> > > > >
> > > > > Season 17 marks another big change for
> Survivor in
> > > > that it will be
> > > > > the first time the show has been shot in
> high
> > > > definition. "Survivor
> > > > > is one of those shows that you want to see
> in HD,"
> > > > says Probst,
> > > > while
> > > > > noting that the scenery will look a lot more
> > > > stunning than the
> > > > > stranded contestants, "People with bug bites
> are
> > > > gonna look worse,
> > > > > people that don't have great bodies are
> gonna look
> > > > worse, and
> > > > people
> > > > > who are really attractive are probably gonna
> look…
> > > > worse." And what
> > > > > about you, Jeff? "I went through every
> scenario:
> > > > Is there any way I
> > > > > can wear makeup? Is there any way I could
> not
> > > > shoot in the middle
> > > > of
> > > > > the day? And the answers are all no. I've
> just
> > > > come to terms with
> > > > > it."
> > > > >
> > > > > Survivor: Gabon—Earth's Last Eden begins
> filming
> > > > in late June and
> > > > > will air in September on CBS.
> > > > >
> > > > > --- In gabondiscussion@ yahoogroups. com,
> Gary
> > > > Marsh
> > > > <garymmarsh@ ...>
> > > > > wrote:
> > > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > > > > How about that!!!!
> > > > > > Imagine those rookies trying to survive
> > > > > > exotic Gabon for 39 days.  Try not to
> > > > > > giggle to loudly.
> > > > > > Survivor teams are usually based in a
> > > > > > remote, isolated location near water
> (river
> > > > > > or ocean).  So, where would you put them.
> > > > > > Do you suppose the will have to get gamma
> > > > > > globulin shots and take anti-malarial
> pills?
> > > > > > Maybe they can seek shelter in a 40 year
> old
>
=== message truncated ===

Hello,

I think Makongonio *is* la Foret des Abeilles, somewhere between Lebamba and
Mbigou (pls dont quote me on that, though)--
I remember how back in the 80s almost every small town shopkeeper had a big
newspaper insert glued to their walls in remembrance of the 9 (or 10?)
"disparus" de Makongonio. Older folks would say something about brave men (and
at least one woman?) whose airplane had crashed under mysterious circumstances.

Sorry if to most of you this story doesn't ring a bell--but it used to be a
pretty big news item back then and a great source of gossip and curses against
the president who was rumored to have ordered the 'disappearance'... I think the
case remains unsolved to this day, no wreck, no bodies, nada... That's when this
whole story about an 'unsurvivable' forest was born.

Aaah...memories!
-Francois


----- Message d'origine ----
De : Darcy Meijer <darcy.meijer@...>
À : gabondiscussion@yahoogroups.com
Envoyé le : Mardi, 13 Mai 2008, 10h52mn 26s
Objet : RE: Re : [Gabon Discussion] Survivor in Gabon

                 In which province is that forest, Francois?

Maybe they could have it in the Foret des Abeilles...

-----Original Message-----
From: gabondiscussion@ yahoogroups. com on behalf of François Gouahinga
Sent: Mon 5/12/2008 8:38 PM
To: gabondiscussion@ yahoogroups. com
Subject: Re : [Gabon Discussion] Survivor in Gabon

Hello all,

Survivor: May I suggest Makongonio forest?
Rumor has it nobody ever walked out of there alive--time to test the myth.

Thanks for sharing the link.

-Francois

----- Message d'origine ----
De : bobutne <bobutne@yahoo. com>
À : gabondiscussion@ yahoogroups. com
Envoyé le : Lundi, 12 Mai 2008, 20h01mn 39s
Objet : Re: [Gabon Discussion] Survivor in Gabon

http://hollywoodins ider.ew.com/ 2008/05/jeff- probst-tal. html

Jeff Probst talks about next 'Survivor' location

With Survivor: Micronesia in the books, the reality franchise is now
gearing up for season 17 by going back to Africa. The show will be
setting up shop on the continent's west coast in the country of
Gabon. "I didn't know where it was," confesses host Jeff Probst. "I
had to look it up on a map. It is probably the most remote place we
have ever gone." What does that mean in terms of wildlife? "We don't
know," Probst says. "No one's really ever hung out there. We're going
to leave a boma with some sticks and stuff, and the contestants will
be given instructions that they need to finish it since we're a
little concerned because it's so unknown. In Kenya [season 3], we had
armed guards everywhere so that if something did happen, we could
take care of it. We're not gonna have that because they're telling us
it is so remote and will probably be remote forever. But a gorilla
could wander into camp." (You mean, Joel from Micronesia?)

Season 17 marks another big change for Survivor in that it will be
the first time the show has been shot in high definition. "Survivor
is one of those shows that you want to see in HD," says Probst, while
noting that the scenery will look a lot more stunning than the
stranded contestants, "People with bug bites are gonna look worse,
people that don't have great bodies are gonna look worse, and people
who are really attractive are probably gonna look. worse." And what
about you, Jeff? "I went through every scenario: Is there any way I
can wear makeup? Is there any way I could not shoot in the middle of
the day? And the answers are all no. I've just come to terms with
it."

Survivor: Gabon-Earth' s Last Eden begins filming in late June and
will air in September on CBS.

--- In gabondiscussion@ yahoogroups. com, Gary Marsh <garymmarsh@ ...>
wrote:
>
>
> How about that!!!!
> Imagine those rookies trying to survive
> exotic Gabon for 39 days.  Try not to
> giggle to loudly.
> Survivor teams are usually based in a
> remote, isolated location near water (river
> or ocean).  So, where would you put them.
> Do you suppose the will have to get gamma
> globulin shots and take anti-malarial pills?
> Maybe they can seek shelter in a 40 year old
> abandoned schoolhouse.
>
> GM
>
>
>
> To: gabondiscussion@ ...: no_reply@... : Mon, 12 May 2008 05:02:16
+0000Subject: [Gabon Discussion] Survivor in Gabon
>
>
>
>
> Did you guys hear that the next season of Survivor on CBS will be
filmed on location in Gabon?
http://en.wikipedia .org/wiki/ Talk:Survivor_ 17
>
>
>
>
>
>
> ____________ _________ _________ _________ _________ _________ _
> Stay in touch when you're away with Windows Live Messenger.
> http://www.windowsl ive.com/messenge r/overview. html?
ocid=TXT_TAGLM_ WL_Refresh_ messenger_ 052008
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>


<!--

#ygrp-mkp{
border:1px solid #d8d8d8;font- family:Arial; margin:14px 0px;padding: 0px 14px;}
#ygrp-mkp hr{
border:1px solid #d8d8d8;}
#ygrp-mkp #hd{
color:#628c2a; font-size: 85%;font- weight:bold; line-height: 122%;margin: 10px
0px;}
#ygrp-mkp #ads{
margin-bottom: 10px;}
#ygrp-mkp .ad{
padding:0 0;}
#ygrp-mkp .ad a{
color:#0000ff; text-decoration: none;}
-->

<!--

#ygrp-sponsor #ygrp-lc{
font-family: Arial;}
#ygrp-sponsor #ygrp-lc #hd{
margin:10px 0px;font-weight: bold;font- size:78%; line-height: 122%;}
#ygrp-sponsor #ygrp-lc .ad{
margin-bottom: 10px;padding: 0 0;}
-->

<!--

	 #ygrp-mlmsg {font-size:13px; font-family: arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif;}
#ygrp-mlmsg table {font-size:inherit; font:100% ;}
#ygrp-mlmsg select, input, textarea {font:99% arial, helvetica, clean,
sans-serif;}
#ygrp-mlmsg pre, code {font:115% monospace;}
#ygrp-mlmsg * {line-height: 1.22em;}
#ygrp-text{
font-family: Georgia;
}
#ygrp-text p{
margin:0 0 1em 0;}
#ygrp-tpmsgs{
font-family: Arial;
clear:both;}
#ygrp-vitnav{
padding-top: 10px;font- family:Verdana; font-size: 77%;margin: 0;}
#ygrp-vitnav a{
padding:0 1px;}
#ygrp-actbar{
clear:both;margin: 25px 0;white-space: nowrap;color: #666;text- align:right; }
#ygrp-actbar .left{
float:left;white- space:nowrap; }
.bld{font-weight: bold;}
#ygrp-grft{
font-family: Verdana;font- size:77%; padding:15px 0;}
#ygrp-ft{
font-family: verdana;font- size:77%; border-top: 1px solid #666;
padding:5px 0;
}
#ygrp-mlmsg #logo{
padding-bottom: 10px;}

#ygrp-reco {
margin-bottom: 20px;padding: 0px;}
#ygrp-reco #reco-head {
font-weight: bold;color: #ff7900;}

#reco-grpname{
font-weight: bold;margin- top:10px; }
#reco-category{
font-size:77% ;}
#reco-desc{
font-size:77% ;}

#ygrp-vital{
background-color: #e0ecee;margin- bottom:20px; padding:2px 0 8px 8px;}
#ygrp-vital #vithd{
font-size:77% ;font-family: Verdana;font- weight:bold; color:#333;
text-transform: uppercase; }
#ygrp-vital ul{
padding:0;margin: 2px 0;}
#ygrp-vital ul li{
list-style-type: none;clear: both;border: 1px solid #e0ecee;
}
#ygrp-vital ul li .ct{
font-weight: bold;color: #ff7900;float: right;width: 2em;text- align:right;
padding-right: .5em;}
#ygrp-vital ul li .cat{
font-weight: bold;}
#ygrp-vital a{
text-decoration: none;}

#ygrp-vital a:hover{
text-decoration: underline; }

#ygrp-sponsor #hd{
color:#999;font- size:77%; }
#ygrp-sponsor #ov{
padding:6px 13px;background- color:#e0ecee; margin-bottom: 20px;}
#ygrp-sponsor #ov ul{
padding:0 0 0 8px;margin:0; }
#ygrp-sponsor #ov li{
list-style-type: square;padding: 6px 0;font-size: 77%;}
#ygrp-sponsor #ov li a{
text-decoration: none;font- size:130% ;}
#ygrp-sponsor #nc{
background-color: #eee;margin- bottom:20px; padding:0 8px;}
#ygrp-sponsor .ad{
padding:8px 0;}
#ygrp-sponsor .ad #hd1{
font-family: Arial;font- weight:bold; color:#628c2a; font-size: 100%;line-
height:122% ;}
#ygrp-sponsor .ad a{
text-decoration: none;}
#ygrp-sponsor .ad a:hover{
text-decoration: underline; }
#ygrp-sponsor .ad p{
margin:0;}
o{font-size: 0;}
.MsoNormal{
margin:0 0 0 0;}
#ygrp-text tt{
font-size:120% ;}
blockquote{margin: 0 0 0 4px;}
.replbq{margin: 4;}
-->


____________ _________ _________ _________ _________ __
Do You Yahoo!?
En finir avec le spam? Yahoo! Mail vous offre la meilleure protection possible
contre les messages non sollicités
http://mail. yahoo.fr Yahoo! Mail

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]




<!--

#ygrp-mkp{
border:1px solid #d8d8d8;font-family:Arial;margin:14px 0px;padding:0px 14px;}
#ygrp-mkp hr{
border:1px solid #d8d8d8;}
#ygrp-mkp #hd{
color:#628c2a;font-size:85%;font-weight:bold;line-height:122%;margin:10px 0px;}
#ygrp-mkp #ads{
margin-bottom:10px;}
#ygrp-mkp .ad{
padding:0 0;}
#ygrp-mkp .ad a{
color:#0000ff;text-decoration:none;}
-->

<!--

#ygrp-sponsor #ygrp-lc{
font-family:Arial;}
#ygrp-sponsor #ygrp-lc #hd{
margin:10px 0px;font-weight:bold;font-size:78%;line-height:122%;}
#ygrp-sponsor #ygrp-lc .ad{
margin-bottom:10px;padding:0 0;}
-->

<!--

	 #ygrp-mlmsg {font-size:13px;font-family:arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif;}
#ygrp-mlmsg table {font-size:inherit;font:100%;}
#ygrp-mlmsg select, input, textarea {font:99% arial, helvetica, clean,
sans-serif;}
#ygrp-mlmsg pre, code {font:115% monospace;}
#ygrp-mlmsg * {line-height:1.22em;}
#ygrp-text{
font-family:Georgia;
}
#ygrp-text p{
margin:0 0 1em 0;}
#ygrp-tpmsgs{
font-family:Arial;
clear:both;}
#ygrp-vitnav{
padding-top:10px;font-family:Verdana;font-size:77%;margin:0;}
#ygrp-vitnav a{
padding:0 1px;}
#ygrp-actbar{
clear:both;margin:25px 0;white-space:nowrap;color:#666;text-align:right;}
#ygrp-actbar .left{
float:left;white-space:nowrap;}
.bld{font-weight:bold;}
#ygrp-grft{
font-family:Verdana;font-size:77%;padding:15px 0;}
#ygrp-ft{
font-family:verdana;font-size:77%;border-top:1px solid #666;
padding:5px 0;
}
#ygrp-mlmsg #logo{
padding-bottom:10px;}

#ygrp-reco {
margin-bottom:20px;padding:0px;}
#ygrp-reco #reco-head {
font-weight:bold;color:#ff7900;}

#reco-grpname{
font-weight:bold;margin-top:10px;}
#reco-category{
font-size:77%;}
#reco-desc{
font-size:77%;}

#ygrp-vital{
background-color:#e0ecee;margin-bottom:20px;padding:2px 0 8px 8px;}
#ygrp-vital #vithd{
font-size:77%;font-family:Verdana;font-weight:bold;color:#333;text-transform:upp\
ercase;}
#ygrp-vital ul{
padding:0;margin:2px 0;}
#ygrp-vital ul li{
list-style-type:none;clear:both;border:1px solid #e0ecee;
}
#ygrp-vital ul li .ct{
font-weight:bold;color:#ff7900;float:right;width:2em;text-align:right;padding-ri\
ght:.5em;}
#ygrp-vital ul li .cat{
font-weight:bold;}
#ygrp-vital a{
text-decoration:none;}

#ygrp-vital a:hover{
text-decoration:underline;}

#ygrp-sponsor #hd{
color:#999;font-size:77%;}
#ygrp-sponsor #ov{
padding:6px 13px;background-color:#e0ecee;margin-bottom:20px;}
#ygrp-sponsor #ov ul{
padding:0 0 0 8px;margin:0;}
#ygrp-sponsor #ov li{
list-style-type:square;padding:6px 0;font-size:77%;}
#ygrp-sponsor #ov li a{
text-decoration:none;font-size:130%;}
#ygrp-sponsor #nc{
background-color:#eee;margin-bottom:20px;padding:0 8px;}
#ygrp-sponsor .ad{
padding:8px 0;}
#ygrp-sponsor .ad #hd1{
font-family:Arial;font-weight:bold;color:#628c2a;font-size:100%;line-height:122%\
;}
#ygrp-sponsor .ad a{
text-decoration:none;}
#ygrp-sponsor .ad a:hover{
text-decoration:underline;}
#ygrp-sponsor .ad p{
margin:0;}
o{font-size:0;}
.MsoNormal{
margin:0 0 0 0;}
#ygrp-text tt{
font-size:120%;}
blockquote{margin:0 0 0 4px;}
.replbq{margin:4;}
-->





__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
En finir avec le spam? Yahoo! Mail vous offre la meilleure protection possible
contre les messages non sollicités
http://mail.yahoo.fr Yahoo! Mail

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

From: Jacques L. Hamel
http://jachamel.googlepages.com

Dear All,

Some members of the group may be interested in this posting (6 pages)
on a strategy - a strategy of `Subversive Rationalization' - for
pulling Gabon and Africa toward some form of distinctive modernity.
Any comment?


"The world we have created is the product of our thinking. It cannot
be changed without changing our thinking" Albert Einstein

"Science is a way of thinking much more than a body of knowledge"
Carl Sagan


The objective of this posting is to share ideas on a strategy - a
STRATEGY OF SUBVERSIVE RATIONALIZATION - for uncovering modernity in
Africa. The strategy emphasizes the internalization of the scientific
method and rational modes of thinking as well as the assimilation of
key scientific knowledge, as the epistemological foundation of any
kind of modernity.  It also stresses the necessity of renovating
conformist, traditionalist or totalizing belief and knowledge
systems, worldviews and cultures, that stand in the way to essential
changes on the road to modernity - a mega-project of autonomization,
individuation, rationalization, demystification and feminization
processes (less patriarchal forms).  Modernity is also a project of
democratization, liberalization, secularization, trans-
nationalization, systematization, technocratization and humanization
processes.

The strategy relies on scientific knowledge, which offers only
incomplete and patchy theories of the real but nonetheless possibly
the best models of reality, for reordering and reconstructing the
African reality and for engaging it with up to date, robust and
economically efficient technical know-how. More generally, it relies
on calculative thinking and on the scientific tradition as the most
viable civilizational horizon of a budding region, whose tortuous and
uncertain transition to modernity may necessitate an imaginative
strand of thinking.  Triumphant techno-scientific dogmas need not
lead inevitably to the devastation, excesses and wastefulness of post-
industrial consumerist cultures. They need not to be a model for an
African modernity, which can avoid being exceedingly obsessed, en-
framed or ordered by technology.

Humans, knowledge and technology are co-emerging, co-evolutive and
mutually co-constitutive of each other. And as soon as we are born we
enter into a corrupted reality: corrupted by ancient customary
thinking, viewpoints and taboos; corrupted by ancestors' tyrannies,
norms and ideals; corrupted by the veiling visions of pre-
contemporary cosmologies, revelations and prophecies; corrupted by
inherited alien religious canons and credos – including those of
Constantinian Christianity and Imperial Islam, which from a
scientific perspective can be assimilated to blind lotteries
(confirmed by statistics) of self-confirming systems of medieval
thinking, superstitions and prejudices; corrupted by lies, mis-
information and deceptions; corrupted by spirits, divinities and
other cultural paradigms; and, more universally, corrupted by
conventional modes of thinking, knowing, understanding and being.

The strategy aims at freeing, `uncorrupting' or modernizing
mentalities and mindscapes, thus opening the way to the emergence of
some brand of original modernity on the African continent, going
further than the simple ownership and display of modernity's most
visible technological gadgets and gizmos.  It aims at reforming the
technological code with key technologies: of the self, of sign, of
freedom, of change, of creativity, of power and of truth. These
technologies are fundamental for guiding the `rebirth' of the self,
or for cultivating the `reborn' Afro-self as a more modern self; for
enlarging the freedom necessary for the required societal
transformations; for evolving effective technological symbols and
meanings, such as those of a generous and mobilizing vision of a
modern Africa; for designing and manufacturing appropriate material
artefacts; for innovating in processes of change, including
technologically-induced socio-cultural change; for reordering power
configurations; and for uncovering, producing or reconstructing
truth – an essential technology in a sea of lies, half-truths, self-
delusions, clichés, cock-and-bull stories, and an important
constitutive element of modernity.

If `ideas shape the course of history' (Keynes) or if `imagination
shapes history' (Napoleon) then access to modernity entails going
past inflationary rhetorical discourse, utopian dreams and ceremonial
entertainments.  It requires subversive ideas and actions and a
methodology that can engineer radical and terribly complex
adjustments in the intricate inner working of African communities.
It calls for critical thinking, dialogue, self-examination, `self-
exorcism' and outright `war' against the conservative supremacy of
the status quo and the authority structures that maintain it.  This
cannot be achieved through somewhat academic, elitist and
reductionist policies.  The basic choice facing the region is between
customary religio-mythic, idolatrous or astonishingly over-religious
rules, on the one hand, and enlightening development regimes
substantiated by controlled experiences, on the other hand.

The relative bottom position of most African countries in the techno-
scientific global order is beyond dispute and current STI strategies
may leave half the region as deprived as ever, blown by the fierce
winds of technologization and globalization, locked into scientific
and technical dependency and unable to meet key MDGs.  In these
circumstances, the strategy may be helpful for putting in place new
foundational power-knowledge frameworks and configurations, and for
improving the African condition.

The African problematic of low exploitation of science and technology
is well known in details and is often understood as the main reason
behind the region's poor socio-economic performance. In this low
techno-scientific environment, attempts to give substance to the idea
of an African Renaissance and comparable initiatives, have
proliferated: Nyerre's Ujamaa, Mobutu's Authenticité, Sengor's
Négritude, Nkruma's Conciencism, Kenyata's Harambee, Wade's Omega,
Bouteflika's Ennahda Movement, Mbeki's `Call to Rebellion' (1998) -
let alone the vision of the Commission for Africa. These initiatives
have mostly been successful at developing, justifying and
communicating specific visions of modernity.  But they also all have
been failures because they have not only under-estimated the colossal
effort required for achieving the necessary makeovers but they also
conveniently ignored the most important changes to bring about: the
painful modernization of the mythological landscape, including pre-
modern Abrahamic, Shamanic and Animist mythologies. These changes
imply a paradigmatic shift toward scientific ways of observing,
questioning, analyzing and knowing or toward science as the latest
myth or the new religion of the time that can propel the continent
into some kind of modernity.

Rationalization refers to a maturation process guided by the
scientific method and by instrumental reason, more than by fairy tale
legacies, superstitions, revealed or divine knowledge, as
historically envisioned by prominent Enlightenment philosophers and
scientists of the 16th and 17th centuries. This rationalization
enables better control and more accurate calculation of means to
achieve precise ends, resulting in superior technological or
technical effectiveness and flexibility, and in greater industrial
advance.  Modernizing nations are more ideologically open or keener
to mathematize and channel the forces of nature for their own
benefit. And they are more oriented toward the corrosion of doubt  -
believing in things that can be empirically supported -- and toward
improving lives in this world (rather than in the after-life).  In
these mindsets, there are no place for Jonas-in-the-whale type of
spellbound stories, amazing archangels, absurd limbos, far-fetched
miracles, occult forces and providential intrusions. Reality is what
is perceived through technological means. This results in developing
societies being progressively subverted into essentially
more `advanced', enlightened or disenchanted ones.

Subversion refers to a process of overthrowing or overturning systems
of principles and convictions as well as forms of dominance, control
and power that are incompatible with or are not sustained by
instrumental rationality and renovation processes.  These processes
result in the uprooting of totalizing, oppressive or terror
structures that obstruct the way to modern manners of grasping
reality - from terrorizing gods and demons, authoritative
governments, phallocratic ecclesiasts, polygamous masters, mystifying
medicine men to cloistered women, domestic slaves, mutilated girls
and abducted brides. A strategy of Subversive Rationalization,
therefore, means clearing the way toward more pragmatic, empirical
and mechanical worldviews and at critically challenging pre-modern
systems from un-enabling governance structures, including commanding
husbands, as well as from constraining cosmological and ideological
formations, whether home-grown or alien.

The strategy intends to probe the knowledge-power–technology gaps
with modern / scientific modes of perceiving.  Filling this gap
necessitates not only acquiring new types of information, such as
scientific, technical and business, but also abandoning some habitual
or pre-scientific types of knowledge that stands in the way to
progress and modernity. As much endeavour may be required to unlearn
or deconstruct a pre-modern reality acquired through acculturation
and socialization, than to learn new scientific and technical
knowledge and a new version of reality.

Scientific proficiency is by far the trickiest to achieve since it
often comes in conflict with long-established traditional knowledge
edifices, which may not be seriously altered without social and
political struggles. Undeniably, pre-modern spiritual constructions,
including those originating from the Middle-East and ancient Arabia,
tend to mesmerize, domesticate or subjugate African societies,
leaving insufficient room for true scientific ways of viewing,
judging, behaving, existing and living.  These scientific ways must
gain ground over non-scientific ways.

In a strategy of Subversive Rationalization, medieval faith-based
representations, infrastructures and institutions, such as the
institution of Heaven / Hell – amongst the most powerful
establishment regulating the lives of Africans – could be superseded
or supplanted by new thinking, unleashing the power of efficient
systems, such as successful innovation systems. Indeed, Evangelical
and Qur'anic models, although of relatively recent human
construction, may lack decisive values for accessing modernity, such
as democratic governance; the complete utilization of feminine
talents and aptitudes; affection and care for nature; a concern for
the future; superiority of scientific methods and hypotheses
over `gaseous' or prophetic knowledge; a strong focus on life before
death and a less fatalistic attitude toward the lifeworld and
poverty – all indispensable preconditions for uncovering modernity.
In many circumstances mytho-religious texts and documents - promoted
by a pervasive and expanding physical and human infrastructure (not
exactly a hotspring of fresh worldviews) - may constitute a virtual
owner's manual for one's life.  This is especially so for Africans-of-
one-book, which under certain conditions may not be conducive to
paradigmatic innovation. Only techno-scientific knowledge can sustain
the deep transformations to modernity.

The strategy requires pushing back fabulous or pre-scientific beliefs
formations in order to clear a space or a pathway for more scientific
views and practices. The central tussle is being played between
various categories of knowledge - from scientifically founded to
unfounded. This could be the crucible where a meaningful African
modernity could emerge, through a redefinition of cultural, social,
economic, ideological, mythological and political relationships with
science and technology.

Technology is more than a tool or an instrument at our disposal. It
is also an organizing activity in which humans themselves are
organized. The more technologies evolve and become ubiquitous the
more humans are themselves transformed and organized into resources,
raw material, system components, toys, cogs, devices and sex organs
and optimized for the sake of system efficiency – the essence of
technology. The outcome is easier and more secure and prosperous ways
of life, but dominated and regulated by the rigorous disciplinary
order of technical systems.  In this framework, the African youth
struggles to become `efficient' resource in the global job market,
while technology mainly reveals Africa as a collection of folkloric
curiosities, and an immense fuel station coveted for powering the
global technological engine.

A techno-scientific renewal through a strategy of Subversive
Rationalization could be helpful in promoting Pan-African integration
and in responding to the special needs of the region. It could be
supportive in revitalizing, refreshing, unifying and integrating
knowledge systems in African territories.  These systems are greatly
fractured, compartmented, `medievalized' and largely unscientifically
founded (Muslim / Christian division and exclusive possession),
balkanized (by six colonizing powers), fragmented (+ 1000 idioms and
worldviews), and mythologized (with indigenous and foreign
superstitions). Knowledge is also sometimes monopolized (non-sharing
knowledge practices and ethos), atomized (not part of any advanced
international knowledge networks), decontextualized (uprooted,
transplanted from the technologically-advanced areas), unused or
underused (scientists as taxi drivers), misappropriated (by power
hungry sources), under or mis-professionalized (shamanic knowledge),
misapplied (ecocidal) or misinterpreted (disregarding scientific
revolutions).  African knowledge is also somewhat being eroded
(extinct or dying knowledge), canned (ready-made shipped in a pre-
packaged fashion), drained (brains seeking greener pasture), rarely
rented (against royalty payments) and always somewhat plagued with
ancestors-,Western- and phallo-centricity.  The strategy would
provide an enhanced and more modern ordering of knowledge and reality.

Current science, technology, innovation and knowledge policy
approaches remain hopelessly naïve and basically adjunct to the
actual working of knowledge economies. They do not address the issues
specifically related to a region a bit `stained' with pre-modern
habits of mind, languages and views of the universe and life. They do
not put enough emphasis on the structural-constitutional issues that
have stabilized many African spaces into pre-modern technological
ways of life (with some growing islands of imitative modernization).
These spaces can graduate into some sort of modernity through a more
intensive, rational, unfettered and popular use of avant-garde
science, technology and knowledge and with the requisite mental or
intellectual costumes of modern times.

Free-thinkers, scientists, policymakers and stakeholders could be
influential in contextualizing and supporting the strategy in the
African region. In line and in full support of NEPAD, they could
commit themselves to building competences for acquiring and
incorporating vital techno-scientific knowledge in strategic areas
and to encouraging and utilizing science as a way of thinking, which
fortunately or unfortunately, is highly injurious and detrimental to
time-honoured traditional or pre-modern myths, prejudices, doctrines,
tenets, precepts, credos, faiths or fantasies.

The strategy could entrust opinion makers and the scientific and
entrepreneurial communities to sound courses of action such as
strengthening capacities for converting or revamping existing
traditional knowledge systems, including faith-based systems, and for
restructuring or recreating reality. These could include
Africanizing, decolonizing, indigenizing, liberating, re-
cosmologizing, re-mythologizing, re-charlatanizing, re-prophetizing,
re-sacralizing and re-deifying processes for a different African
adventure, driven by thriving methodical ways of thinking and
scientific practices.
.
In summary the strategy of Subversive Rationalization uses the power
of scientific thought to launch a counter hegemonic offensive in
order to subvert disabling traditional and repressive knowledge-power
orders that stand in the way to a new realism, or to the rejuvenation
and reconstruction of the African reality. The strategy may be
valuable for bringing about a post-totemic, post-enchanted, post-
Abrahamic, post-phallocratic, post-colonial and post-fragmented
regional space and in moving Africa forward into a distinctive,
creative, secular, democratic and authentic form of modernity.

Details regarding the strategy can be found in a draft website -
http://jachamel.googlepages.com  - (600 pages).

Prolific and well written, but this stuff sounds like a bad
translation of Chairman Mao's Little Red Book. Having seen Gabon's
culture close up, and having secured funding for a Gabonese dance
group to come to the U.S. for two weeks and perform, I would find it
distressing if it wasn't absurd to imagine that the Gabonese (or the
people of any other culture) could abandon all of their traditional
culture in the name of "science" in the way described. (They've lost
to much as it is grace aux colons.)

Kivi Namongongo!

Brad Hodges


--- In gabondiscussion@yahoogroups.com, "Jacques L. Hamel"
<jachamel@...> wrote:
>
> From: Jacques L. Hamel
> http://jachamel.googlepages.com
>
> Dear All,
>
> Some members of the group may be interested in this posting (6 pages)
> on a strategy - a strategy of `Subversive Rationalization' - for
> pulling Gabon and Africa toward some form of distinctive modernity.
> Any comment?
>
>
> "The world we have created is the product of our thinking. It cannot
> be changed without changing our thinking" Albert Einstein
>
> "Science is a way of thinking much more than a body of knowledge"
> Carl Sagan
>
>
> The objective of this posting is to share ideas on a strategy - a
> STRATEGY OF SUBVERSIVE RATIONALIZATION - for uncovering modernity in
> Africa. The strategy emphasizes the internalization of the scientific
> method and rational modes of thinking as well as the assimilation of
> key scientific knowledge, as the epistemological foundation of any
> kind of modernity.  It also stresses the necessity of renovating
> conformist, traditionalist or totalizing belief and knowledge
> systems, worldviews and cultures, that stand in the way to essential
> changes on the road to modernity - a mega-project of autonomization,
> individuation, rationalization, demystification and feminization
> processes (less patriarchal forms).  Modernity is also a project of
> democratization, liberalization, secularization, trans-
> nationalization, systematization, technocratization and humanization
> processes.
>
> The strategy relies on scientific knowledge, which offers only
> incomplete and patchy theories of the real but nonetheless possibly
> the best models of reality, for reordering and reconstructing the
> African reality and for engaging it with up to date, robust and
> economically efficient technical know-how. More generally, it relies
> on calculative thinking and on the scientific tradition as the most
> viable civilizational horizon of a budding region, whose tortuous and
> uncertain transition to modernity may necessitate an imaginative
> strand of thinking.  Triumphant techno-scientific dogmas need not
> lead inevitably to the devastation, excesses and wastefulness of post-
> industrial consumerist cultures. They need not to be a model for an
> African modernity, which can avoid being exceedingly obsessed, en-
> framed or ordered by technology.
>
> Humans, knowledge and technology are co-emerging, co-evolutive and
> mutually co-constitutive of each other. And as soon as we are born we
> enter into a corrupted reality: corrupted by ancient customary
> thinking, viewpoints and taboos; corrupted by ancestors' tyrannies,
> norms and ideals; corrupted by the veiling visions of pre-
> contemporary cosmologies, revelations and prophecies; corrupted by
> inherited alien religious canons and credos – including those of
> Constantinian Christianity and Imperial Islam, which from a
> scientific perspective can be assimilated to blind lotteries
> (confirmed by statistics) of self-confirming systems of medieval
> thinking, superstitions and prejudices; corrupted by lies, mis-
> information and deceptions; corrupted by spirits, divinities and
> other cultural paradigms; and, more universally, corrupted by
> conventional modes of thinking, knowing, understanding and being.
>
> The strategy aims at freeing, `uncorrupting' or modernizing
> mentalities and mindscapes, thus opening the way to the emergence of
> some brand of original modernity on the African continent, going
> further than the simple ownership and display of modernity's most
> visible technological gadgets and gizmos.  It aims at reforming the
> technological code with key technologies: of the self, of sign, of
> freedom, of change, of creativity, of power and of truth. These
> technologies are fundamental for guiding the `rebirth' of the self,
> or for cultivating the `reborn' Afro-self as a more modern self; for
> enlarging the freedom necessary for the required societal
> transformations; for evolving effective technological symbols and
> meanings, such as those of a generous and mobilizing vision of a
> modern Africa; for designing and manufacturing appropriate material
> artefacts; for innovating in processes of change, including
> technologically-induced socio-cultural change; for reordering power
> configurations; and for uncovering, producing or reconstructing
> truth – an essential technology in a sea of lies, half-truths, self-
> delusions, clichés, cock-and-bull stories, and an important
> constitutive element of modernity.
>
> If `ideas shape the course of history' (Keynes) or if `imagination
> shapes history' (Napoleon) then access to modernity entails going
> past inflationary rhetorical discourse, utopian dreams and ceremonial
> entertainments.  It requires subversive ideas and actions and a
> methodology that can engineer radical and terribly complex
> adjustments in the intricate inner working of African communities.
> It calls for critical thinking, dialogue, self-examination, `self-
> exorcism' and outright `war' against the conservative supremacy of
> the status quo and the authority structures that maintain it.  This
> cannot be achieved through somewhat academic, elitist and
> reductionist policies.  The basic choice facing the region is between
> customary religio-mythic, idolatrous or astonishingly over-religious
> rules, on the one hand, and enlightening development regimes
> substantiated by controlled experiences, on the other hand.
>
> The relative bottom position of most African countries in the techno-
> scientific global order is beyond dispute and current STI strategies
> may leave half the region as deprived as ever, blown by the fierce
> winds of technologization and globalization, locked into scientific
> and technical dependency and unable to meet key MDGs.  In these
> circumstances, the strategy may be helpful for putting in place new
> foundational power-knowledge frameworks and configurations, and for
> improving the African condition.
>
> The African problematic of low exploitation of science and technology
> is well known in details and is often understood as the main reason
> behind the region's poor socio-economic performance. In this low
> techno-scientific environment, attempts to give substance to the idea
> of an African Renaissance and comparable initiatives, have
> proliferated: Nyerre's Ujamaa, Mobutu's Authenticité, Sengor's
> Négritude, Nkruma's Conciencism, Kenyata's Harambee, Wade's Omega,
> Bouteflika's Ennahda Movement, Mbeki's `Call to Rebellion' (1998) -
> let alone the vision of the Commission for Africa. These initiatives
> have mostly been successful at developing, justifying and
> communicating specific visions of modernity.  But they also all have
> been failures because they have not only under-estimated the colossal
> effort required for achieving the necessary makeovers but they also
> conveniently ignored the most important changes to bring about: the
> painful modernization of the mythological landscape, including pre-
> modern Abrahamic, Shamanic and Animist mythologies. These changes
> imply a paradigmatic shift toward scientific ways of observing,
> questioning, analyzing and knowing or toward science as the latest
> myth or the new religion of the time that can propel the continent
> into some kind of modernity.
>
> Rationalization refers to a maturation process guided by the
> scientific method and by instrumental reason, more than by fairy tale
> legacies, superstitions, revealed or divine knowledge, as
> historically envisioned by prominent Enlightenment philosophers and
> scientists of the 16th and 17th centuries. This rationalization
> enables better control and more accurate calculation of means to
> achieve precise ends, resulting in superior technological or
> technical effectiveness and flexibility, and in greater industrial
> advance.  Modernizing nations are more ideologically open or keener
> to mathematize and channel the forces of nature for their own
> benefit. And they are more oriented toward the corrosion of doubt  -
> believing in things that can be empirically supported -- and toward
> improving lives in this world (rather than in the after-life).  In
> these mindsets, there are no place for Jonas-in-the-whale type of
> spellbound stories, amazing archangels, absurd limbos, far-fetched
> miracles, occult forces and providential intrusions. Reality is what
> is perceived through technological means. This results in developing
> societies being progressively subverted into essentially
> more `advanced', enlightened or disenchanted ones.
>
> Subversion refers to a process of overthrowing or overturning systems
> of principles and convictions as well as forms of dominance, control
> and power that are incompatible with or are not sustained by
> instrumental rationality and renovation processes.  These processes
> result in the uprooting of totalizing, oppressive or terror
> structures that obstruct the way to modern manners of grasping
> reality - from terrorizing gods and demons, authoritative
> governments, phallocratic ecclesiasts, polygamous masters, mystifying
> medicine men to cloistered women, domestic slaves, mutilated girls
> and abducted brides. A strategy of Subversive Rationalization,
> therefore, means clearing the way toward more pragmatic, empirical
> and mechanical worldviews and at critically challenging pre-modern
> systems from un-enabling governance structures, including commanding
> husbands, as well as from constraining cosmological and ideological
> formations, whether home-grown or alien.
>
> The strategy intends to probe the knowledge-power–technology gaps
> with modern / scientific modes of perceiving.  Filling this gap
> necessitates not only acquiring new types of information, such as
> scientific, technical and business, but also abandoning some habitual
> or pre-scientific types of knowledge that stands in the way to
> progress and modernity. As much endeavour may be required to unlearn
> or deconstruct a pre-modern reality acquired through acculturation
> and socialization, than to learn new scientific and technical
> knowledge and a new version of reality.
>
> Scientific proficiency is by far the trickiest to achieve since it
> often comes in conflict with long-established traditional knowledge
> edifices, which may not be seriously altered without social and
> political struggles. Undeniably, pre-modern spiritual constructions,
> including those originating from the Middle-East and ancient Arabia,
> tend to mesmerize, domesticate or subjugate African societies,
> leaving insufficient room for true scientific ways of viewing,
> judging, behaving, existing and living.  These scientific ways must
> gain ground over non-scientific ways.
>
> In a strategy of Subversive Rationalization, medieval faith-based
> representations, infrastructures and institutions, such as the
> institution of Heaven / Hell – amongst the most powerful
> establishment regulating the lives of Africans – could be superseded
> or supplanted by new thinking, unleashing the power of efficient
> systems, such as successful innovation systems. Indeed, Evangelical
> and Qur'anic models, although of relatively recent human
> construction, may lack decisive values for accessing modernity, such
> as democratic governance; the complete utilization of feminine
> talents and aptitudes; affection and care for nature; a concern for
> the future; superiority of scientific methods and hypotheses
> over `gaseous' or prophetic knowledge; a strong focus on life before
> death and a less fatalistic attitude toward the lifeworld and
> poverty – all indispensable preconditions for uncovering modernity.
> In many circumstances mytho-religious texts and documents - promoted
> by a pervasive and expanding physical and human infrastructure (not
> exactly a hotspring of fresh worldviews) - may constitute a virtual
> owner's manual for one's life.  This is especially so for Africans-of-
> one-book, which under certain conditions may not be conducive to
> paradigmatic innovation. Only techno-scientific knowledge can sustain
> the deep transformations to modernity.
>
> The strategy requires pushing back fabulous or pre-scientific beliefs
> formations in order to clear a space or a pathway for more scientific
> views and practices. The central tussle is being played between
> various categories of knowledge - from scientifically founded to
> unfounded. This could be the crucible where a meaningful African
> modernity could emerge, through a redefinition of cultural, social,
> economic, ideological, mythological and political relationships with
> science and technology.
>
> Technology is more than a tool or an instrument at our disposal. It
> is also an organizing activity in which humans themselves are
> organized. The more technologies evolve and become ubiquitous the
> more humans are themselves transformed and organized into resources,
> raw material, system components, toys, cogs, devices and sex organs
> and optimized for the sake of system efficiency – the essence of
> technology. The outcome is easier and more secure and prosperous ways
> of life, but dominated and regulated by the rigorous disciplinary
> order of technical systems.  In this framework, the African youth
> struggles to become `efficient' resource in the global job market,
> while technology mainly reveals Africa as a collection of folkloric
> curiosities, and an immense fuel station coveted for powering the
> global technological engine.
>
> A techno-scientific renewal through a strategy of Subversive
> Rationalization could be helpful in promoting Pan-African integration
> and in responding to the special needs of the region. It could be
> supportive in revitalizing, refreshing, unifying and integrating
> knowledge systems in African territories.  These systems are greatly
> fractured, compartmented, `medievalized' and largely unscientifically
> founded (Muslim / Christian division and exclusive possession),
> balkanized (by six colonizing powers), fragmented (+ 1000 idioms and
> worldviews), and mythologized (with indigenous and foreign
> superstitions). Knowledge is also sometimes monopolized (non-sharing
> knowledge practices and ethos), atomized (not part of any advanced
> international knowledge networks), decontextualized (uprooted,
> transplanted from the technologically-advanced areas), unused or
> underused (scientists as taxi drivers), misappropriated (by power
> hungry sources), under or mis-professionalized (shamanic knowledge),
> misapplied (ecocidal) or misinterpreted (disregarding scientific
> revolutions).  African knowledge is also somewhat being eroded
> (extinct or dying knowledge), canned (ready-made shipped in a pre-
> packaged fashion), drained (brains seeking greener pasture), rarely
> rented (against royalty payments) and always somewhat plagued with
> ancestors-,Western- and phallo-centricity.  The strategy would
> provide an enhanced and more modern ordering of knowledge and reality.
>
> Current science, technology, innovation and knowledge policy
> approaches remain hopelessly naïve and basically adjunct to the
> actual working of knowledge economies. They do not address the issues
> specifically related to a region a bit `stained' with pre-modern
> habits of mind, languages and views of the universe and life. They do
> not put enough emphasis on the structural-constitutional issues that
> have stabilized many African spaces into pre-modern technological
> ways of life (with some growing islands of imitative modernization).
> These spaces can graduate into some sort of modernity through a more
> intensive, rational, unfettered and popular use of avant-garde
> science, technology and knowledge and with the requisite mental or
> intellectual costumes of modern times.
>
> Free-thinkers, scientists, policymakers and stakeholders could be
> influential in contextualizing and supporting the strategy in the
> African region. In line and in full support of NEPAD, they could
> commit themselves to building competences for acquiring and
> incorporating vital techno-scientific knowledge in strategic areas
> and to encouraging and utilizing science as a way of thinking, which
> fortunately or unfortunately, is highly injurious and detrimental to
> time-honoured traditional or pre-modern myths, prejudices, doctrines,
> tenets, precepts, credos, faiths or fantasies.
>
> The strategy could entrust opinion makers and the scientific and
> entrepreneurial communities to sound courses of action such as
> strengthening capacities for converting or revamping existing
> traditional knowledge systems, including faith-based systems, and for
> restructuring or recreating reality. These could include
> Africanizing, decolonizing, indigenizing, liberating, re-
> cosmologizing, re-mythologizing, re-charlatanizing, re-prophetizing,
> re-sacralizing and re-deifying processes for a different African
> adventure, driven by thriving methodical ways of thinking and
> scientific practices.
> .
> In summary the strategy of Subversive Rationalization uses the power
> of scientific thought to launch a counter hegemonic offensive in
> order to subvert disabling traditional and repressive knowledge-power
> orders that stand in the way to a new realism, or to the rejuvenation
> and reconstruction of the African reality. The strategy may be
> valuable for bringing about a post-totemic, post-enchanted, post-
> Abrahamic, post-phallocratic, post-colonial and post-fragmented
> regional space and in moving Africa forward into a distinctive,
> creative, secular, democratic and authentic form of modernity.
>
> Details regarding the strategy can be found in a draft website -
> http://jachamel.googlepages.com  - (600 pages).
>

Hello all,

Maybe you've already seen this, maybe not: it turns out the mastermind of armed
robberies (for which ordinary Gabonese citizens routinely blame Nigerians) is no
other than the former governor of the Estuaire province!!!

http://gaboneco.com/show_article.php?IDActu=7622

-Francois


__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
En finir avec le spam? Yahoo! Mail vous offre la meilleure protection possible
contre les messages non sollicités
http://mail.yahoo.fr Yahoo! Mail

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Boujour à tous,
je suis à la recherche de coordonées d'un couple que l'on a fait
connaissance récemment à Ngonié chez Betty.
Ils étaient chez Betty du 12 au 14 mai 2008.
Elle s'appelle Audrey, la vingtaine, métisse Gabonaise.
Lui est blanc les cheuveux longs.Il travaille à GENEVE en Suisse dans
une société pour le sucre.Ils sont venus au Gabon du 2mai au 16mai par
Gabon airline.
Un couple trés aimable avec lequel nous nous sommes trés bien entendu
en peu de temps mais malheuresement pris par le tps nous avons pas
échangé coordonnées...
Avec ces peu d 'infos est ce quelqu'un pourrai nous aider.??
Merci d'avance
Amitié de "Diego

Diego,

J'aimerais vous aider. Il n'y a pas encore des faits que vous pouvez me
raconter?

Je peux ajouter votre message a The Gabon Letter en juillet, si cela vous
plairait. Oui?

Darcy Meijer, editor


-----Original Message-----
From: gabondiscussion@yahoogroups.com on behalf of Diego
Sent: Sat 5/17/2008 11:51 AM
To: gabondiscussion@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [Gabon Discussion] Recherches.

Boujour à tous,
je suis à la recherche de coordonées d'un couple que l'on a fait
connaissance récemment à Ngonié chez Betty.
Ils étaient chez Betty du 12 au 14 mai 2008.
Elle s'appelle Audrey, la vingtaine, métisse Gabonaise.
Lui est blanc les cheuveux longs.Il travaille à GENEVE en Suisse dans
une société pour le sucre.Ils sont venus au Gabon du 2mai au 16mai par
Gabon airline.
Un couple trés aimable avec lequel nous nous sommes trés bien entendu
en peu de temps mais malheuresement pris par le tps nous avons pas
échangé coordonnées...
Avec ces peu d 'infos est ce quelqu'un pourrai nous aider.??
Merci d'avance
Amitié de "Diego





[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Mbolo Darcy,
I am an RPCV from Gabon (02-04, Kango) and I have a request.  I am currently
trying to raise funds for a former Gabonese student of mine who has the
opportunity to come work in Minnesota this summer but lacks the transportation
money to make it possible.  Would you be able to forward the message below to
members of Friends of Gabon, or anyone else you think might be able to help? 
I'd really appreciate it!
Merci!
Kelly

----------------

Mbolo!
I am writing today to ask for your help.    If you are interested in learning
about a direct way that you can help make a Gabonese student's dream come true
TODAY, read on...

I served as a PCV in Gabon (Kango) from 2002-04. A former student of mine from
Kango has a dream to travel to Minnesota this summer to get a taste of the
American experience and practice his English skills, which will open up a world
of possibilities for his future.

An exceptionally talented young man, Magic (the name he chose for English class
and it just stuck) won an award this year for having the best grades in his
class. He has continued to write me consistently for almost 4 years now, and he
has made great progress in English..  If anyone deserves a break in life it is
him.  His father abandoned his family about 5 years ago, making it exceptionally
difficult for him to continue his studies.  However, he persisted and has
excelled despite all odds against him.

Magic has been selected to be a camp counselor at Concordia Language Villages in
Minnesota this summer.  The only thing holding him back from pursuing this
opportunity is a plane ticket..  The cost is $2,500. This is, of course,
prohibitively expensive for his family, and without our help this opportunity
will be lost. With a little help from everyone, we can make it possible for him
to pursue this opportunity! For a little sacrifice, we could make a HUGE impact
on Magic's life.

I set up a paypal account so that you can donate online.  Just go to
www.paypal.com and click on the "Send Money" link, and enter my email address:
kfolliard@....

Or, if you'd prefer, checks of any contribution can be sent to:
Kelly Folliard
293 Fox Farm Rd.
Brattleboro, VT 05301

If you decide to contribute, I will keep you updated on his progress, and you
will also recieve personal email messages from him.

Thank you,
Kelly Folliard


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

http://www.kxii.com/news/headlines/19060274.html


On a bright sunny day on the Austin College campus, thousands of
hours of studying and hard work came to an end. As the cliché goes,
graduation brings about the start of a new life; especially for Davy
Axel Nze Akoue. The native of the African country of Gabon said good
bye to a place he says he will never forget.

"I get an education and an opportunity to better myself, but at the
same time my friend in America get to know about my culture and we
get to bridge the gap of stereotypes people have," says Akoue, known
as "Axel."

After graduating high school, Axel received a scholarship from his
native land to study in the United States. After spending a month in
Chicago, trying to master the English language, he headed where a lot
students from Gabon go to study and continue their English studies:
Grayson County College.

"Grayson was still giving me a chance to work on my English and to
still take some basic classes so after spending 3 semesters at
Grayson, I transferred to Austin College."

The transition from a place he had grown to love, to new
surroundings, wasn't easy.

"You belong to where you grow up and you leave friends and family,
food, everything you have ever known and then you have to go to a new
place where you don't know anybody and you have to emotionally start
over."

His mother, who speaks little English, was just as concerned.

"I was worried but I was joyful at the same time, worried because he
was an only child but at the same time happy because I know he was
going by himself to get a higher education," she says.

He fought through the challenges, earning a degree in international
studies and a minor in communication. Axel says he will now use those
skills at the United Nations. He plans to work with the `Nothing but
Nets' campaign to help combat malaria in African countries, with the
help of the NBA.

It's that opportunity to give back that makes him special, at least
to his mom.

"I am not surprised because I always knew he would do great things
with God's blessing," she says.

At the graduation ceremony, Axel and his senior classmates presented
the university with a check for $51,000. The funds will go to a
scholarship for international students.

Hello,

Thanks for sharing this story--
I myself almost went to Grayson under the advice of the American counselor at
ELI in Ancien Sobraga. She also teaches at UOB, and has been trying for years to
place Gabonese students in southern colleges in part because of affordability
and the weather.

On a somewhat related note, this year marks the 60th anniversary of College
Bessieux, the famous Catholic high school in LBV. I and other former graduates
in the US are considering a massive book drive for the school's English club,
but we're not quite convinced this can make the most impact. Any suggestions?

Thanks,
-Francois




----- Message d'origine ----
De : bobutne <bobutne@...>
À : gabondiscussion@yahoogroups.com
Envoyé le : Lundi, 19 Mai 2008, 9h32mn 51s
Objet : [Gabon Discussion] Davy Axel Nze Akoue


http://www.kxii. com/news/ headlines/ 19060274. html

On a bright sunny day on the Austin College campus, thousands of
hours of studying and hard work came to an end. As the cliché goes,
graduation brings about the start of a new life; especially for Davy
Axel Nze Akoue. The native of the African country of Gabon said good
bye to a place he says he will never forget.

"I get an education and an opportunity to better myself, but at the
same time my friend in America get to know about my culture and we
get to bridge the gap of stereotypes people have," says Akoue, known
as "Axel."

After graduating high school, Axel received a scholarship from his
native land to study in the United States. After spending a month in
Chicago, trying to master the English language, he headed where a lot
students from Gabon go to study and continue their English studies:
Grayson County College.

"Grayson was still giving me a chance to work on my English and to
still take some basic classes so after spending 3 semesters at
Grayson, I transferred to Austin College."

The transition from a place he had grown to love, to new
surroundings, wasn't easy.

"You belong to where you grow up and you leave friends and family,
food, everything you have ever known and then you have to go to a new
place where you don't know anybody and you have to emotionally start
over."

His mother, who speaks little English, was just as concerned.

"I was worried but I was joyful at the same time, worried because he
was an only child but at the same time happy because I know he was
going by himself to get a higher education," she says.

He fought through the challenges, earning a degree in international
studies and a minor in communication. Axel says he will now use those
skills at the United Nations. He plans to work with the `Nothing but
Nets' campaign to help combat malaria in African countries, with the
help of the NBA.

It's that opportunity to give back that makes him special, at least
to his mom.

"I am not surprised because I always knew he would do great things
with God's blessing," she says.

At the graduation ceremony, Axel and his senior classmates presented
the university with a check for $51,000. The funds will go to a
scholarship for international students.



__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
En finir avec le spam? Yahoo! Mail vous offre la meilleure protection possible
contre les messages non sollicités
http://mail.yahoo.fr Yahoo! Mail

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Hi Francois,

One place you might begin a book search is English Language Programs/Intensive
English Programs (IEP) in
your area. The IEP I work in has enough money that we are always taking in new
materials, trying them out, and
discarding unused ones. Last week I gave a few boxes of good quality grammar and
reading books to a college student who is going to Ghana on a missionary trip.

Also, our local library has book sales twice a year to get rid of dated
materials. We usually go and often pick up
really good books - in good shape, not old. Some people buy books like Reader's
Digest Condensed
for $1 a box.

Darcy



-----Original Message-----
From: gabondiscussion@yahoogroups.com on behalf of François Gouahinga
Sent: Mon 5/19/2008 11:04 AM
To: gabondiscussion@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re : [Gabon Discussion] Davy Axel Nze Akoue




Hello,

Thanks for sharing this story--
I myself almost went to Grayson under the advice of the American counselor at
ELI in Ancien Sobraga. She also teaches at UOB, and has been trying for years to
place Gabonese students in southern colleges in part because of affordability
and the weather.

On a somewhat related note, this year marks the 60th anniversary of College
Bessieux, the famous Catholic high school in LBV. I and other former graduates
in the US are considering a massive book drive for the school's English club,
but we're not quite convinced this can make the most impact. Any suggestions?

Thanks,
-Francois




----- Message d'origine ----
De : bobutne <bobutne@...>
À : gabondiscussion@yahoogroups.com
Envoyé le : Lundi, 19 Mai 2008, 9h32mn 51s
Objet : [Gabon Discussion] Davy Axel Nze Akoue


http://www.kxii. com/news/ headlines/ 19060274. html

On a bright sunny day on the Austin College campus, thousands of
hours of studying and hard work came to an end. As the cliché goes,
graduation brings about the start of a new life; especially for Davy
Axel Nze Akoue. The native of the African country of Gabon said good
bye to a place he says he will never forget.

"I get an education and an opportunity to better myself, but at the
same time my friend in America get to know about my culture and we
get to bridge the gap of stereotypes people have," says Akoue, known
as "Axel."

After graduating high school, Axel received a scholarship from his
native land to study in the United States. After spending a month in
Chicago, trying to master the English language, he headed where a lot
students from Gabon go to study and continue their English studies:
Grayson County College.

"Grayson was still giving me a chance to work on my English and to
still take some basic classes so after spending 3 semesters at
Grayson, I transferred to Austin College."

The transition from a place he had grown to love, to new
surroundings, wasn't easy.

"You belong to where you grow up and you leave friends and family,
food, everything you have ever known and then you have to go to a new
place where you don't know anybody and you have to emotionally start
over."

His mother, who speaks little English, was just as concerned.

"I was worried but I was joyful at the same time, worried because he
was an only child but at the same time happy because I know he was
going by himself to get a higher education," she says.

He fought through the challenges, earning a degree in international
studies and a minor in communication. Axel says he will now use those
skills at the United Nations. He plans to work with the `Nothing but
Nets' campaign to help combat malaria in African countries, with the
help of the NBA.

It's that opportunity to give back that makes him special, at least
to his mom.

"I am not surprised because I always knew he would do great things
with God's blessing," she says.

At the graduation ceremony, Axel and his senior classmates presented
the university with a check for $51,000. The funds will go to a
scholarship for international students.



__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
En finir avec le spam? Yahoo! Mail vous offre la meilleure protection possible
contre les messages non sollicités
http://mail.yahoo.fr Yahoo! Mail

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]




[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Interesting that Axel is going to work with the UN organization,
Nothing but Nets. Back in December, the organization distributed
about 100,000 treated mosquito nets throughout Gabon and our group of
Peace Corps Volunteers and staff (who served in Gabon from 1963-65)
contributed over $10,000 to the project.



--- In gabondiscussion@yahoogroups.com, François Gouahinga
<gouaf@...> wrote:
>
>
>
>
> Hello,
>
> Thanks for sharing this story--
> I myself almost went to Grayson under the advice of the American
counselor at ELI in Ancien Sobraga. She also teaches at UOB, and has
been trying for years to place Gabonese students in southern colleges
in part because of affordability and the weather.
>
> On a somewhat related note, this year marks the 60th anniversary of
College Bessieux, the famous Catholic high school in LBV. I and other
former graduates in the US are considering a massive book drive for
the school's English club, but we're not quite convinced this can
make the most impact. Any suggestions?
>
> Thanks,
> -Francois
>
>
>
>
> ----- Message d'origine ----
> De : bobutne <bobutne@...>
> À : gabondiscussion@yahoogroups.com
> Envoyé le : Lundi, 19 Mai 2008, 9h32mn 51s
> Objet : [Gabon Discussion] Davy Axel Nze Akoue
>
>
> http://www.kxii. com/news/ headlines/ 19060274. html
>
> On a bright sunny day on the Austin College campus, thousands of
> hours of studying and hard work came to an end. As the cliché goes,
> graduation brings about the start of a new life; especially for
Davy
> Axel Nze Akoue. The native of the African country of Gabon said
good
> bye to a place he says he will never forget.
>
> "I get an education and an opportunity to better myself, but at the
> same time my friend in America get to know about my culture and we
> get to bridge the gap of stereotypes people have," says Akoue,
known
> as "Axel."
>
> After graduating high school, Axel received a scholarship from his
> native land to study in the United States. After spending a month
in
> Chicago, trying to master the English language, he headed where a
lot
> students from Gabon go to study and continue their English studies:
> Grayson County College.
>
> "Grayson was still giving me a chance to work on my English and to
> still take some basic classes so after spending 3 semesters at
> Grayson, I transferred to Austin College."
>
> The transition from a place he had grown to love, to new
> surroundings, wasn't easy.
>
> "You belong to where you grow up and you leave friends and family,
> food, everything you have ever known and then you have to go to a
new
> place where you don't know anybody and you have to emotionally
start
> over."
>
> His mother, who speaks little English, was just as concerned.
>
> "I was worried but I was joyful at the same time, worried because
he
> was an only child but at the same time happy because I know he was
> going by himself to get a higher education," she says.
>
> He fought through the challenges, earning a degree in international
> studies and a minor in communication. Axel says he will now use
those
> skills at the United Nations. He plans to work with the `Nothing
but
> Nets' campaign to help combat malaria in African countries, with
the
> help of the NBA.
>
> It's that opportunity to give back that makes him special, at least
> to his mom.
>
> "I am not surprised because I always knew he would do great things
> with God's blessing," she says.
>
> At the graduation ceremony, Axel and his senior classmates
presented
> the university with a check for $51,000. The funds will go to a
> scholarship for international students.
>
>
>
> __________________________________________________
> Do You Yahoo!?
> En finir avec le spam? Yahoo! Mail vous offre la meilleure
protection possible contre les messages non sollicités
> http://mail.yahoo.fr Yahoo! Mail
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>

LIBREVILLE, May 23 (Xinhua) -- The French Development Agency
(AFD) will invest a total of 48 million euros (about 77 million U.S.
dollars) in a bid to spur activities in different economic sectors in
Gabon in the 2008 fiscal year, according to official sources.

     The announcement, which, according to observers, represents one
of the largest single-year investments to be undertaken by the
government-run AFD in the country, was made Thursday.

     Addressing a press conference in Libreville, Eric Baulard, AFD
country director for Gabon, said that the various "sectors that are
expected to benefit from the cash bonanza were still under
negotiation with the government."

     The investment is generally focused on areas such as
infrastructure, forestry and environmental management, health,
vocational training and support to the private sector, said the AFD
country director.

     According to Baulard, the financial institution, which is at the
epicenter of France's development assistance and one of the major
donors to Gabon, had invested about 47 million euros in development
projects in Gabon in 2007.

     The funds, said the AFD official, had particularly been invested
in the rehabilitation of the Ndjole-Medoumane road to bitumen
standards among other similar and high impact projects across the
country.

Bob,
I, for one, was very pragmatic about
our experience in Gabon. I wish I had
realized how truly undeveloped the
country was when we were there.
I would have enjoyed it more and perhaps
spent more time exploring that uniqueness
that will never return.

GM


To: gabondiscussion@...: bobutne@...: Fri, 23 May 2008
13:59:14 +0000Subject: [Gabon Discussion] France continues to invest in Gabon's
infrastructure




LIBREVILLE, May 23 (Xinhua) -- The French Development Agency (AFD) will invest a
total of 48 million euros (about 77 million U.S. dollars) in a bid to spur
activities in different economic sectors in Gabon in the 2008 fiscal year,
according to official sources. The announcement, which, according to observers,
represents one of the largest single-year investments to be undertaken by the
government-run AFD in the country, was made Thursday. Addressing a press
conference in Libreville, Eric Baulard, AFD country director for Gabon, said
that the various "sectors that are expected to benefit from the cash bonanza
were still under negotiation with the government." The investment is generally
focused on areas such as infrastructure, forestry and environmental management,
health, vocational training and support to the private sector, said the AFD
country director. According to Baulard, the financial institution, which is at
the epicenter of France's development assistance and one of the major donors to
Gabon, had invested about 47 million euros in development projects in Gabon in
2007. The funds, said the AFD official, had particularly been invested in the
rehabilitation of the Ndjole-Medoumane road to bitumen standards among other
similar and high impact projects across the country.






_________________________________________________________________
E-mail for the greater good. Join the i’m Initiative from Microsoft.
http://im.live.com/Messenger/IM/Join/Default.aspx?source=EML_WL_ GreaterGood

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Hello! I've heard more than one rumor that they'll be filming in and
around Nyonie and the Wonga Wongue Presidential Reserve.

I have a website called Survivor Maps that has maps and local
information on each of the Survivor locations. I've been providilng
this
resource for fans and contestants since the first Survivor.

Dan, Survivor Maps
http://www.claycritters.com/map/survivormaps.htm

http://www.mineweb.com/mineweb/view/mineweb/en/page674?
oid=53884&sn=Detail

Gide Loyrette Nouel has advised China National Machinery & Equipment
Import & Export Corporation (CMEC) in Gabon in connection with the
development of the Bélinga iron ore mine, which ore reserves would
exceed 560 million tons, with 64% iron ore content. Gide Loyrette Nouel
assisted CMEC in drafting and negotiating a mining convention, which
was signed between the Republic of Gabon and Compagnie Minière de
Bélinga (COMIBEL) on May 24, 2008 in Libreville. Shareholders of
COMIBEL include the Republic of Gabon (25%), CMEC, Panzhihua Iron &
Steel Group and other individual shareholders. The mining convention
provides for the construction of major infrastructures in Gabon such as
a 3 x 50MW hydroelectric plant and  560-km railroad and deep sea harbor
facilities. Construction and development of the mine should last
approximately four years and CMEC anticipates investing US$ five
billion in this project. Output of the mine is expected to reach 20-30
million tons per year.

Bob,
If we should ever return to Gabon
we will hardly recognize the big hole
in the ground.

GM


To: gabondiscussion@...: bobutne@...: Sat, 31 May 2008
12:45:58 +0000Subject: [Gabon Discussion] China signs $5 billion investment
project to extract Gabonese iron ore.




http://www.mineweb.com/mineweb/view/mineweb/en/page674?oid=53884&sn=DetailGide
Loyrette Nouel has advised China National Machinery & Equipment Import & Export
Corporation (CMEC) in Gabon in connection with the development of the Bélinga
iron ore mine, which ore reserves would exceed 560 million tons, with 64% iron
ore content. Gide Loyrette Nouel assisted CMEC in drafting and negotiating a
mining convention, which was signed between the Republic of Gabon and Compagnie
Minière de Bélinga (COMIBEL) on May 24, 2008 in Libreville. Shareholders of
COMIBEL include the Republic of Gabon (25%), CMEC, Panzhihua Iron & Steel Group
and other individual shareholders. The mining convention provides for the
construction of major infrastructures in Gabon such as a 3 x 50MW hydroelectric
plant and 560-km railroad and deep sea harbor facilities. Construction and
development of the mine should last approximately four years and CMEC
anticipates investing US$ five billion in this project. Output of the mine is
expected to reach 20-30 million tons per year.






_________________________________________________________________
E-mail for the greater good. Join the i’m Initiative from Microsoft.
http://im.live.com/Messenger/IM/Join/Default.aspx?source=EML_WL_ GreaterGood

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Hello all,

As I recall getting to part of the mining area in Belinga might actually trample
upon the Ivindo national park, with potentially devastating effects on
biodiversity. A while back a coalition of local NGOs that tried to call the
govt's attention on this were more or less intimidated. The Interior minister at
the time, I think Mba Obame, threatened to withdraw their credentials for what
he characterized as involvement in a political matter.

And I doubt that any of my fellow Ogooue Ivindo natives will get any benefit
from the resources that are taken from our territory. What we know about the
Chinese is that they usually bring a whole team, down to laborers so the
employment figures advertised by the authorities are most likely unrealistic.

Thanks for sharing the link.

-Francois



----- Message d'origine ----
De : bobutne <bobutne@...>
À : gabondiscussion@yahoogroups.com
Envoyé le : Samedi, 31 Mai 2008, 8h45mn 58s
Objet : [Gabon Discussion] China signs $5 billion investment project to extract
Gabonese iron ore.


http://www.mineweb. com/mineweb/ view/mineweb/ en/page674?
oid=53884&sn= Detail

Gide Loyrette Nouel has advised China National Machinery & Equipment
Import & Export Corporation (CMEC) in Gabon in connection with the
development of the Bélinga iron ore mine, which ore reserves would
exceed 560 million tons, with 64% iron ore content. Gide Loyrette Nouel
assisted CMEC in drafting and negotiating a mining convention, which
was signed between the Republic of Gabon and Compagnie Minière de
Bélinga (COMIBEL) on May 24, 2008 in Libreville. Shareholders of
COMIBEL include the Republic of Gabon (25%), CMEC, Panzhihua Iron &
Steel Group and other individual shareholders. The mining convention
provides for the construction of major infrastructures in Gabon such as
a 3 x 50MW hydroelectric plant and  560-km railroad and deep sea harbor
facilities. Construction and development of the mine should last
approximately four years and CMEC anticipates investing US$ five
billion in this project. Output of the mine is expected to reach 20-30
million tons per year.



__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
En finir avec le spam? Yahoo! Mail vous offre la meilleure protection possible
contre les messages non sollicités
http://mail.yahoo.fr Yahoo! Mail

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

I was cleaning up a closet and found a photocopy from "Florida Today,
FOOD Section E" from July 30, 1987.

Here is a recipe in an article by Georgetta Sharman (Oyem '79-'81).
"Peace Corps offers edible opportunities."

Chicken and Peanut Sauce

1 chicken in pieces
2 chopped onions
   Salt, pepper and hot pepper
1 cup tomato paste
1 - 2 cup peanut butter
   bananas
   pineapple
   peanuts
   grated coconut
   hot sauce

Brown chicken pieces in oil.  Add onions, salt, pepper and hot pepper
and fry for 5 minutes.  Add tomato paste and stir unitl chicken is
well coated.  Add peanut butter and water to cover.  simmer until
cooked.  The sauce should have thickened.  Serve over rice with
chopped fruit and peanuts as side dishes and hot sauce.

This is a great tasting recipe and I'll be serving it at the Summer
Fete 2008 here on St. Croix.

Thanks Georgetta, wherever you are.  I hope that you are well and
still cooking up some great Gabon dishes.

Don.

OK.  Another recipe.  This one is really from Diana Sacramento and I
submitted it to "Aquanews" a publication of the Pond
Dynamics/Aquaculture CRSP which funds aquaculture research in
developing countries. Go to page 8 of this document to see it in
print. http://pdacrsp.oregonstate.edu/pubs/aquanews/Spring00.pdf

Poisson a la Braise (Grilled Fish)

2   whole tilapia, cleaned, head on
1/2 onion, chopped
2   T tomato paste
1   lemon
1   T piment (hot pepper sauce)
1/2 cup egetable oil
1   stalk lemon grass, chopped
     salt

Prepare fish:
Cut slits diagonally on both sides of the fish.  Rub with salt.
Squeeze lemon over and inside the fish.  Place pieces of lemon grass
in the slits.

Make sauce:
combine onion, piment, tomato paste and oil

Begin cooking:
Brush the sauce mixture over the fish and place fish on the grill.
Grill the fish onone side, brushing occasionally with the mixture.
Turn once to grill other side.  Remove from grill when flesh flakes
with a fork.

Serve with beer and a baguette.

We will make this for our Sunday dinner at the Summer Fete 2008 that
I'm hosting on St. Croix.  Anyone interested will also get to tour the
UVI Aquaculture Facilities where I work and see a more intensive form
of aquaculture than the pond culture we worked with in Gabon.

I know of one other Fisheries volunteer who is still involved in
aquaculture.  Anyone else?

Don