Comments on: Why wired telephony in Africa is such a basket case http://www.ethanzuckerman.com/blog/2006/07/03/why-wired-telephony-in-africa-is-such-a-basket-case/ EthanZ's musings on Africa, media and international development Wed, 08 Feb 2012 20:45:31 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Denny & Tendai http://www.ethanzuckerman.com/blog/2006/07/03/why-wired-telephony-in-africa-is-such-a-basket-case/comment-page-1/#comment-2123776 Denny & Tendai Tue, 03 Aug 2010 12:36:59 +0000 http://www.ethanzuckerman.com/blog/?p=867#comment-2123776 Dear Sir/Madam,

We are an organization based in Harare with the aim to promote the Shona Art where we are the bridge that connects artists to the clients! As we browsed through your website, we realized that the African arts you are selling would be a good combination for the hand-carved shona stone pieces and batik products that we offer!

Each one is hand-carved by a Shona artist, and we thought it would be wonderful asking you to consider marketing these beautiful art pieces, knowing that the artists are working in very primitive conditions this will be an opportunity to make them benefit out of their talents!

Attached are our standard stone catalog and few batik images.….

Please feel free to contact us for further details etc…..!

Kind regards,

Denny & Tendai Simon
No. 1 Adylinn Road
Marlborough, Harare
Tel: 00 263 4 309 800-11
Fax: 00 263 4 309 835
Mobile: 00 263 912 498 583
Skype: denny.simon1

]]> By: Worldesigns http://www.ethanzuckerman.com/blog/2006/07/03/why-wired-telephony-in-africa-is-such-a-basket-case/comment-page-1/#comment-2107622 Worldesigns Mon, 19 Jul 2010 17:47:18 +0000 http://www.ethanzuckerman.com/blog/?p=867#comment-2107622 Worldesigns has a large selection of telephone wire baskets and plates made by the Zulus of South Africa: http://www.worldesigns.com The modern baskets are made with wire specifically created for crafting, rather than reusing the old telephone wire, which used water soluable dyes so that technicians could locate leaks in a cable. For our telephone wire items, the weavers are provided with the wire by individuals who market their product. Worldesigns is in the process of helping several collectives of South African telephone wire weavers to become financially independent. Many members or family members are HIV positive and live in desperate rural poverty. Often grandparents are raising grandchildren, their own children having died from AIDS related illness. Each piece is a unique, usable, exquisite art piece. Collective members specialize in their own unique weaving styles, allowing Worldesigns to offer a variety of shapes, techniques, plates, bowls, baskets, and art masterpieces. Custom volume and wholesale orders are our specialty and our landed stock is possibly the largest inventory in the U.S. We have also participated in prominent high-profile art exhibitions. It is our hope that this unique (survival) art form will find a broader audience. Our long term goal is to improve the standard of living of families to improve the quality of their homes, and provide education and medical help for their families. Every purchase provides an amazing gift and helps others across the globe. Simply amazing. Worldesigns has a large selection of telephone wire baskets and plates made by the Zulus of South Africa:
http://www.worldesigns.com

The modern baskets are made with wire specifically created for crafting, rather than reusing the old telephone wire, which used water soluable dyes so that technicians could locate leaks in a cable. For our telephone wire items, the weavers are provided with the wire by individuals who market their product.

Worldesigns is in the process of helping several collectives of South African telephone wire weavers to become financially independent. Many members or family members are HIV positive and live in desperate rural poverty. Often grandparents are raising grandchildren, their own children having died from AIDS related illness.

Each piece is a unique, usable, exquisite art piece. Collective members specialize in their own unique weaving styles, allowing Worldesigns to offer a variety of shapes, techniques, plates, bowls, baskets, and art masterpieces. Custom volume and wholesale orders are our specialty and our landed stock is possibly the largest inventory in the U.S. We have also participated in prominent high-profile art exhibitions.

It is our hope that this unique (survival) art form will find a broader audience. Our long term goal is to improve the standard of living of families to improve the quality of their homes, and provide education and medical help for their families.

Every purchase provides an amazing gift and helps others across the globe. Simply amazing.

]]> By: Bill http://www.ethanzuckerman.com/blog/2006/07/03/why-wired-telephony-in-africa-is-such-a-basket-case/comment-page-1/#comment-2107340 Bill Mon, 19 Jul 2010 13:03:25 +0000 http://www.ethanzuckerman.com/blog/?p=867#comment-2107340 We are working with some local crafters in Johannesburg and are looking for a supplier for colored plastic coated wire. If any of you that posted previously about such wire would be so kind as to email me the contact information for a South African supplier, preferably in the Johannesburg area, it would be greatly appreciated. Even if you haven’t posted previously but know where we can buy the wire please help us out!

First post had a typo in the body and website.

]]> By: D Arment http://www.ethanzuckerman.com/blog/2006/07/03/why-wired-telephony-in-africa-is-such-a-basket-case/comment-page-1/#comment-1866000 D Arment Wed, 06 Jan 2010 23:16:47 +0000 http://www.ethanzuckerman.com/blog/?p=867#comment-1866000 I could agree that in the past, wire was stolen, but I think you will find that in the modern marketplace, most of the wire is purchased directly from suppliers and given to the weavers. Most of the commercially available wire-work is not made from stolen wire. This is a myth that is perpetuated by certain South Africans. I could agree that in the past, wire was stolen, but I think you will find that in the modern marketplace, most of the wire is purchased directly from suppliers and given to the weavers. Most of the commercially available wire-work is not made from stolen wire. This is a myth that is perpetuated by certain South Africans.

]]> By: Jenifer http://www.ethanzuckerman.com/blog/2006/07/03/why-wired-telephony-in-africa-is-such-a-basket-case/comment-page-1/#comment-1335269 Jenifer Thu, 04 Dec 2008 22:01:17 +0000 http://www.ethanzuckerman.com/blog/?p=867#comment-1335269 Here (in Uruguay), we have the same problem: people steal copper cables, but they do it to sell it to dealers...who sale the cables to the same companies that brings the telephone and electricity services!!! That's business for both parts because dealers make money, and the companies too because you need to pay them to restore the service, and they buy cables cheaper than new ones. Here (in Uruguay), we have the same problem: people steal copper cables, but they do it to sell it to dealers…who sale the cables to the same companies that brings the telephone and electricity services!!!

That’s business for both parts because dealers make money, and the companies too because you need to pay them to restore the service, and they buy cables cheaper than new ones.

]]> By: Blog de Rafael Carreras » Els robatoris de cables: Associació dʼusuaris de GNU/Linux en llengua Catalana http://www.ethanzuckerman.com/blog/2006/07/03/why-wired-telephony-in-africa-is-such-a-basket-case/comment-page-1/#comment-1334830 Blog de Rafael Carreras » Els robatoris de cables: Associació dʼusuaris de GNU/Linux en llengua Catalana Thu, 04 Dec 2008 17:54:54 +0000 http://www.ethanzuckerman.com/blog/?p=867#comment-1334830 [...] que treuen el ja co?locat amb el consegüent perill per a la seguretat nacional. També diuen que segons un article de 2006, els robatoris de cables contribueixen a l’alentiment en el desenvolupament d’internet [...] [...] que treuen el ja co?locat amb el consegüent perill per a la seguretat nacional. També diuen que segons un article de 2006, els robatoris de cables contribueixen a l’alentiment en el desenvolupament d’internet [...]

]]> By: Ravilyn Sanders http://www.ethanzuckerman.com/blog/2006/07/03/why-wired-telephony-in-africa-is-such-a-basket-case/comment-page-1/#comment-1334326 Ravilyn Sanders Thu, 04 Dec 2008 13:53:22 +0000 http://www.ethanzuckerman.com/blog/?p=867#comment-1334326 It is not a third world problem. Right here in USA, in the state of Hawaii, large sections of its only highway are dark because thieves have stolen the copper wire from the light poles. AT least it was when I visited it last May 2008. It is not a third world problem. Right here in USA, in the state of Hawaii, large sections of its only highway are dark because thieves have stolen the copper wire from the light poles. AT least it was when I visited it last May 2008.

]]> By: Andy http://www.ethanzuckerman.com/blog/2006/07/03/why-wired-telephony-in-africa-is-such-a-basket-case/comment-page-1/#comment-1333937 Andy Thu, 04 Dec 2008 09:14:23 +0000 http://www.ethanzuckerman.com/blog/?p=867#comment-1333937 the basic crux of the matter are the corrupt heads of state, and greedy politians. aid/money goes in, nothing comes out. oh, except the presidents wife puts in an order for this years model mercades convertable, and the blackmarket sells some more AK47's. i agree with comment 17 whole heartedly. and if you think some effing baskets are really amazing, i suggest you pull your head out of your arse and have a look at the real world. the basic crux of the matter are the corrupt heads of state, and greedy politians. aid/money goes in, nothing comes out. oh, except the presidents wife puts in an order for this years model mercades convertable, and the blackmarket sells some more AK47′s.
i agree with comment 17 whole heartedly. and if you think some effing baskets are really amazing, i suggest you pull your head out of your arse and have a look at the real world.

]]> By: NYC http://www.ethanzuckerman.com/blog/2006/07/03/why-wired-telephony-in-africa-is-such-a-basket-case/comment-page-1/#comment-1333622 NYC Thu, 04 Dec 2008 04:41:47 +0000 http://www.ethanzuckerman.com/blog/?p=867#comment-1333622 That is just amazing. Hopefully the networks will move to wireless in time to stem the loss of revenue from theft. That is just amazing. Hopefully the networks will move to wireless in time to stem the loss of revenue from theft.

]]> By: ron http://www.ethanzuckerman.com/blog/2006/07/03/why-wired-telephony-in-africa-is-such-a-basket-case/comment-page-1/#comment-603552 ron Mon, 05 Nov 2007 12:49:00 +0000 http://www.ethanzuckerman.com/blog/?p=867#comment-603552 There are a number of crafter groups making telephine wire baskets from new telephone wire and there is not question of theft. We hope to begin importing them soon as they are really amazing! There are a number of crafter groups making telephine wire baskets from new telephone wire and there is not question of theft. We hope to begin importing them soon as they are really amazing!

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