developing countries

Africa is poor. There is a high unemployment rate. People are uneducated. Food is scarce. Environment is a big mess.

So cool that the situation in Rotterdam is nearly perfect. Take a look at the Duysstraat this morning:












The newest trouble of Africa is the urbanization. El Dorada has moved to the city center. From morning to evening cars, busses, trucks, and scooters are stuck in endless traffic jams. Everybody is one their way to make money.

Let me tell you a little bit about the bus system in Dar es Salam, Tanzania. Investors buy busses, have them painted in the color of their district, and rent them out to two guys. These two guys take rounds in being conductor and driver, dressed in ragged uniforms. Everyone who hops on a bus pays 20 ct. At the end of the day the conductor and driver fill the tank, take back the bus to the owner, pay him € 25 and keep the rest.

What is the reality? Every popular destination has a lot of busses taking commuters home. If there is a construction on the way, busses find ways around it. Some drivers ask a higher fee and allow fewer passengers than the average 26 on a minibus. Every time someone wants to drop they shout "shuka" and get dropped. If there is an old lady wanting to board, they wait for her. She means money!

Now let's look at the situation in Netherlands right now. Busses are on strike. Does anyone see it as an opportunity for starting their own busservice? No, they can't. Regulations. Do taxi's start to compete with each other now that there's an abundance of customers? No, they don't. Regulations. Do kids start biking to school? I see this mother on tv, saying that "her daughter isn't that fond of cycling."


It leaves me puzzled. Who is being more inventive here? Who is more innovative?