Lessons from the sub-Saharan past on how to deal with pandemics
by Rashmee
Posted on May 23, 2020
Ever wondered how humans in Africa hundreds of years ago protected themselves from pandemics? The BBC World Service’s ‘Science in Action’ programme offered an answer, in a fascinating conversation with Professor Shadreck Chirikure, Head of the Department of Archaeology at the University of Cape Town. Communities practised social distancing, the Professor said, by dispersing settlements, … Continue reading “Lessons from the sub-Saharan past on how to deal with pandemics”
Read MoreUK furlough scheme could learn from 18th century proto-Keynesian state intervention in India
by Rashmee
Posted on May 17, 2020
With 7.5 million jobs in Britain now covered by the government’s furlough scheme, right through to October, there’s much to learn from an 18th century proto-Keynesian successful state intervention from north India. It was launched by the Nawab of Awadh, Asaf-ud Daula in 1784, when famine hit the region. Awadh was a wealthy kingdom in … Continue reading “UK furlough scheme could learn from 18th century proto-Keynesian state intervention in India”
Read MoreA world of Zoombies: What it means, really
by Rashmee
Posted on May 16, 2020
In the past 24 hours, I have been on three Zoom calls. The first on Friday night was with good friends, calling with birthday wishes. The second and third, on Saturday, were with disparate groups of family members, similarly reaching out across the lockdown with loving virtual hugs and kisses. The Friday night call ran … Continue reading “A world of Zoombies: What it means, really”
Read MoreCan we tackle both climate change and Covid-19 recovery?
by Rashmee
Posted on May 13, 2020
According to Betteridge’s law of headlines, “Any headline that ends in a question mark can be answered by the word no”. It’s not a law, of course, but an adage and it is named after British technology journalist Ian Betteridge. It’s also of relatively recent vintage – a mere 11 years. Despite Betteridge’s law, I would … Continue reading “Can we tackle both climate change and Covid-19 recovery?”
Read MoreNew study says something deeper than the simple truth that hard physical labour is…well, hard
by Rashmee
Posted on May 12, 2020
New findings on lower healthy life expectancy for workers in physically demanding jobs are out today (May 12) and they have serious implications for European governments seeking to raise retirement age. The large long-term study of Danish workers in hundreds of different types of jobs is published online in Occupational & Environmental Medicine, one of … Continue reading “New study says something deeper than the simple truth that hard physical labour is…well, hard”
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Rashmee has lived and worked in several countries in the past decade, including Afghanistan, India, Haiti, Tunisia, the UAE, US and UK