tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-148809022011-04-21T21:06:41.799-04:00Dennis Tessierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15628296158930212390noreply@blogger.comBlogger251100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14880902.post-5195643814563258882007-12-01T08:14:00.000-05:002008-12-11T17:12:06.176-05:00

Dennis Tessierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15628296158930212390noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14880902.post-3587791932618401502007-10-29T23:01:00.000-04:002008-12-11T17:12:06.385-05:00

Dennis Tessier with Jill Valentine Jill is joined for the walk home along one of Ngonga's many pathsWhere are the graves? That is the question someone once asked me when I had brought them to Friends of Tanzania’s “Watoto Wetu (Our Children)” project in Kyela, Tanzania. It was a good question considering how we had previously discussed in length the impact of the AIDS pandemic in the

Dennis Tessierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15628296158930212390noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14880902.post-10084121783630610292007-08-29T04:22:00.000-04:002008-12-11T17:12:06.647-05:00

In the Swahili language, "m" is the prefix to indicate a person in the singular and "wa" is for plural.For me I am "mchina" or in other words, a chinaman. My name is Dennis Tessier and I was born in Canada to French Canadian parents, but I am Chinese...Well, at least in rural Tanzania I am.Some times in Dar, but mostly in rural areas people will believe me to be Chinese. They greet me by

Dennis Tessierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15628296158930212390noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14880902.post-81553153523641675412007-08-20T06:04:00.000-04:002007-08-20T06:56:55.695-04:00

This past week we had a guest from Canada visit our home for orphan and HIV+ children here in Dar es Salaam. Jesse is an education student at McGill University. A very energetic and open-minded person, she enjoyed visiting the home and playing with Mboni and Dhokus, the two 5 year old girls who are still too young to go to school. When I suggested we visit the primary school across the road, she

Dennis Tessierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15628296158930212390noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14880902.post-44805018687811864922007-08-06T05:39:00.000-04:002007-08-06T05:42:36.514-04:00

By: Uzodinma Iweala Washington Post, Sunday, July 15, 2007 Last fall, shortly after I returned from Nigeria, I was accosted by a perky blond college student whose blue eyes seemed to match the "African" beads around her wrists."Save Darfur!" she shouted from behind a table covered with pamphlets urging students to TAKE ACTION NOW! STOP GENOCIDE IN DARFUR!My aversion to college kids jumping onto

Dennis Tessierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15628296158930212390noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14880902.post-13529059742893615682007-06-08T03:53:00.000-04:002008-12-11T17:12:06.829-05:00

The following is what Paulo Coelho wrote for Shirin Ebadi, a woman who won the Nobel Peace Prize. As Paulo Coelho wrote – “it is words that can be applied to all those who are working to create a better world.”THE PERSON POET RUMI ONCE SAID THAT LIFE IS LIKE BEING SENT BY A KING TO ANOTHER COUNTRY IN ORDER TO CARRY OUT A PARTICULAR TASK. THE PERSON SENT MAY DO A HUNDRED OTHER THINGS IN THAT OTHER

Dennis Tessierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15628296158930212390noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14880902.post-44111370724876078932007-06-05T05:23:00.000-04:002008-12-11T17:12:09.310-05:00

Medical Staff from Muhimbili Hospital, Eva from Denmark, Steve from the U.S, Mary, her daugther Jenai, mama Agnes (who passed away in January) and myself at a village medical camp in Kerege, Bagaymoyo, TanzaniaA picture following the launch of ARTI-TZ at a press conference held at the Commission for Science and Technology (COSTECH), March 2007 ARTI-TZ Staff at the Renewable Energies Exibition at

Dennis Tessierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15628296158930212390noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14880902.post-43276334705853603252007-05-24T05:11:00.000-04:002008-12-11T17:12:09.616-05:00

The end of May and into June can be considered the equivalent to spring time in Kyela. The sun emerges and the long rains come to an end, but more importantly, the rice ripens. Endless fields of rice fill the fertile valley nestled in between the Livingston Mountains. The last rain water drains out of the fields into Lake Malawi and the farmers are busy harvesting. Indeed it is a time of high

Dennis Tessierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15628296158930212390noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14880902.post-74607761082310183682007-05-01T09:16:00.000-04:002008-12-11T17:12:10.185-05:00

This is what I have been working hard on since November 2006. The technologies and the scientific organization was introduced to me through a friend and now I have joined in partnership with a gentleman from India, named Potnis and another gentleman named Joy, who is Tanzanian. Both are exceptional people and are working hard to bring this brilliant technology to AfricaThe fact that this project

Dennis Tessierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15628296158930212390noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14880902.post-1176119908085138712007-04-09T07:53:00.000-04:002007-04-09T07:58:28.086-04:00

Camouflage is used to disguise something so it blends into its environment. Camouflage is intended to mislead us into believe nothing is out of the normal. Camouflage is a tool designed to cover the truth. Camouflage is the greatest enemy to the fight against the HIV/AIDS pandemic. HIV positive people use it to mask their illness; families use it to mask the cause of death of a loved one.

Dennis Tessierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15628296158930212390noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14880902.post-1176119356781351262007-04-09T07:31:00.000-04:002007-04-09T07:49:16.796-04:00

Mwalimu "teacher" Hilda running with some of our 120 children in Ngonga Village, Kyela District, Tanzania.My sister Jesica with the kindergarden children in Kyela...they came to watch her paint a mural entitled "watoto wetu", "our children", which the school is named.Me and my girlfriend Jwani. The most wonderful person I have ever met...creative, dynamic and loving.

Dennis Tessierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15628296158930212390noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14880902.post-1161862491563561682006-10-26T07:24:00.000-04:002006-10-26T07:34:51.576-04:00

In Africa, the HIV/AIDS pandemic is raging on. Some countries are making great strides to fight back; others are just beginning to fight. I am writing from the front lines of Kyela District, in the Southern Highlands of Tanzania, where people and politicians are beginning to wake up and talk about the virus that is taking so much from them. My work here has been supported widely by my friends

Dennis Tessierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15628296158930212390noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14880902.post-1135642468004896392005-12-26T19:13:00.000-05:002006-01-19T10:24:35.100-05:00

Personally, 2005 has been a turbulent year with many ups and downs. I began the year standing on top of Mount Meru in Tanzania to see the sun rise over Africa’s highest mountain, Mount Kilimanjaro only to return home to find my relationship of seven years in ruins. I can honestly say that in my first week of 2005 I had experienced my highest high and my lowest low and there stood before me

Dennis Tessierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15628296158930212390noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14880902.post-1133147843936833722005-11-27T22:14:00.000-05:002005-11-27T22:17:23.950-05:00

The news of two Canadian humanitarian workers being taken hostage in Iraq highlights the dangers that are often associated with humanitarian work around the world. The truth of the matter being that the pursuit of a just, harmonious and sustainable planet often requires one to meet those elements that are preventing it head on. This often means working in dangerous settings and Iraq is probably

Dennis Tessierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15628296158930212390noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14880902.post-1131940358476293122005-11-13T22:46:00.000-05:002005-11-13T22:52:38.496-05:00

When I was a Masters student in Development Studies and the Foreign Student Representative at the University of Dar es Salaam in Tanzania, I had had the opportunity to meet many people from Tanzania, East Africa and Europe. One such person goes by the name Christopher. On exchange with his university in Austria, Christopher decided to study one semester in Tanzania as a part of his programme.

Dennis Tessierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15628296158930212390noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14880902.post-1130805332513543402005-10-31T19:34:00.000-05:002005-10-31T19:35:32.526-05:00

Globalization siezes to amaze me as much as it has engulfed me. Tonight my grandparents stopped by on the way to florida (yet more snow birds offering thier trailer to the hurricane gods). So they call us up and tell us to meet them in the Walmart parking lot as the trailer is too big for the city streets. So we arrive and they have a whole set up ready to go. My grandma goes and buys cookies

Dennis Tessierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15628296158930212390noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14880902.post-1128733985310265212005-10-07T20:49:00.000-04:002005-10-07T21:13:05.320-04:00

Self reflection and self-judgement are probably the two hardest things that a person, an institution or an entire discipline can do. This is certainly true of the development paradigm and hence the theme of this submission. The past two years in East Africa studying development studies, conducting research and working and volunteering for development organizations has taught me the realities of

Dennis Tessierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15628296158930212390noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14880902.post-1126834968449790432005-09-15T21:37:00.000-04:002005-09-25T20:32:16.056-04:00

My 11 year old nephew wrote this poem the other day and I think it deserves recognition on the world wide web. I wont steal any more of your spotlight Nathan.“I AM”By: NateI am a Canadian boy who likes to jumpI wonder if the world will ever dieI hear rushing water in the windI see me in my old homeI want people to stop solving their problems with warI am a Canadian boy who likes to jumpI pretend

Dennis Tessierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15628296158930212390noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14880902.post-1126575010154307582005-09-12T21:23:00.000-04:002005-09-12T21:30:10.160-04:00

For those of you who know my dad you will understand where I am coming from. For those of you who dont, I will explain. Well my dad is a pretty amazing guy who has faced alot of challenges in life. For the most part, he has learned not only to perservere, but to also contributed alot to this world. However, my dad has failed to gain any significant ground in one particular area, and that is

Dennis Tessierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15628296158930212390noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14880902.post-1125974877619654752005-09-05T22:37:00.000-04:002005-09-05T22:56:07.836-04:00

“Look, he’s just a fucking coon! They’re all just a bunch of fucking coons down there anyways.” The words had entered my ears but I could not believe that I had actually heard them. I stood there in utter shock. I could not believe that a stranger would say that to me in a public place, or to anyone in anyplace. The shock wore off and I thought about how I would respond. I knew what he was

Dennis Tessierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15628296158930212390noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14880902.post-1124587376453410982005-08-20T21:13:00.000-04:002005-08-21T13:19:24.630-04:00

I recently read this article in the Orillia Today, a local newspaper. I then wrote a response to it as I was frustrated by its one dimensionalism and utter pessimism. After all is said and done, one cannot dismiss the fact that the two articles highlight the major debates that exist within the development community. Karibu, bienvenue, welcome.Good money after badBy: Claire Hoy(In: Orillia Today,

Dennis Tessierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15628296158930212390noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14880902.post-1122933222563137962005-08-01T17:48:00.000-04:002005-08-01T18:02:51.283-04:00

Stephen Lewis, Secretary General's Special Envoy for HIV/AIDS in AfricaPhoto by Nicole Toutounji, UNICEFIt is of great pleasure to discover that Stephen Lewis will be coming to Orillia on October 16th to speak at the Orillia Opera House. Stephen Lewis is an embodiment of the Canadian identity and a role model for all the globe’s citizens. Stephen Lewis is known for being a politician and a

Dennis Tessierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15628296158930212390noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14880902.post-1122525263095582482005-07-28T00:20:00.000-04:002005-08-01T18:18:09.993-04:00

The ConstitutionOfDennis TessierDrafted on February 24, 2005 PreambleWhereas life is intended to be lived in a just, harmonious and sustainable manner;ANDOnes existence is not to be taken for granted or diluted by inaction;ANDIn recognition that nothing in life is possible or worthwhile without a strong foundation provided by friends and family and ones duty to them.Part OneOn Life & Attitude I.

Dennis Tessierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15628296158930212390noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14880902.post-1122519478223368492005-07-27T21:57:00.000-04:002006-01-12T11:04:20.320-05:00

The first question you must ask when you read my blog is, “what do I mean by ‘freedom farmer’?” To answer this question I must talk about the difference between a fighter and a farmer.I have always had issues with the term, “freedom fighter.” Freedom FIGHTER implies destruction, whether it is the physical destruction of other human beings, their ideas, their property or their environment. Looking

Dennis Tessierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15628296158930212390noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14880902.post-1122524112439267602005-06-27T00:13:00.000-04:002005-07-28T00:19:47.706-04:00

The “Live 8” concert will be in Barrie in just a few short days and many of us have succeeded in getting tickets to what looks like to be an amazing turn out of talented acts. We have heart about the musicians, but have we taken enough time to think about their message? Live 8 is intended to bring forward the message that we, the worlds rich industrialized nations, must do something to alleviate

Dennis Tessierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15628296158930212390noreply@blogger.com0