Posts by Brent J. Ludwig
Aid Gone Wrong—the CIDA/New Brunswick Malawi Dairy Foreign Aid Project
The CIDA/New Brunswick Malawi Dairy Farm Project As many of you know, my interest in things African, and specifically in Malawi, was piqued as a teenager. I remember the day back in Grade 11 in good old Sussex, New Brunswick, Canada when they came back early. A family had been sent to Malawi, Africa to…
Read MoreThe Evolution of First Nations Relations in Canada
As many of you know, my recently published book, Those Who Would Be King: The People’s Prince (#1 bestseller on Amazon), delves into the sensitive subject of financial aid to African countries. My interest in this subject is strong, having grown up in remote mining communities across Canada, it is impossible not to draw parallels…
Read MorePublication Day: Musings From A (Finally) Published Author!
I’m Published! So today is finally my formal publication day. Everyone keeps asking me about whether or not I’m excited. My answer is either: (1) I don’t know; or, (2) if a tree falls in the woods and there’s no one there the hear the noise it makes as it falls, does it truly make…
Read MoreWhy History Matters in a Cancel Culture World
Why History Matters in a Cancel Culture World Canada has become extremely polarized. Conservative versus Liberal. Woke versus right-wing conspiracy theorist. Climate change believers versus global warming deniers. Everybody has a view. And south of the border, the U.S. is equally, if not even further, divided. As a student of history and an author of…
Read MoreThe Morel Of The Story: A Mycologist’s Passionate Pursuit Of The Perfect Fungi
As many of you who know me personally already have figured out, I’m quite the nature buff. Being raised by prairie parents whose own folks tilled the land for food and planted extensive gardens, harvesting food from nature comes naturally to me, if you’ll pardon the pun. My kids get very annoyed with me when…
Read MoreLeveraging Skills And Volunteerism To Promote Leadership Development In Youth Soccer
We all know that soccer is the world’s #1 sport. In Calgary, Alberta, where I live, soccer registrations are up 11% this year! This is amazing growth and reflects the increasing popularity of the sport and the success of our Canadian teams internationally. As many of you know, my book attempts to deliver socio-political and…
Read MoreCooperatives in sub-Saharan Africa: Supporting and Financing Female Entrepreneurs
Cooperatives in sub-Saharan Africa Most of us, even in the Western world, have heard about how micro-finance is helping people in developing countries to build their assets and wealth and improve their lives. But far fewer of us have heard about the role played by cooperatives in sub-Saharan Africa, particularly the role played by women’s…
Read MoreHere’s The Reason Why I’m A “Foodist” And Not A “Foodie”
“You’re such a foodie.” Why I Prefer FoodIST, Not FoodIE Those words make me cringe. Truly. If you’re a friend, you’re going to feel my wrath. If you’re not my friend, you’ll probably see my eyes roll, my back shudder, and then watch as I walk away. Most people haven’t even heard of the word…
Read MoreHow Writing A Novel Is Like Being An Amateur Chef
“Ok,” you’re thinking, “Brent put too much Bailey’s in his coffee this morning.” Either that, or he’s still feeling the effects of the wine from the night before. But in fact, neither of those scenarios, though plausible, is accurate. How Writing Resembles Cooking When I wrote Those Who Would Be King: The People’s Prince, I…
Read MoreFreddy Is A Nightmare in Malawi, Not Just A Horror Flick Killer
Cyclone Freddy slammed Malawi, the world’s fourth poorest country, not once, but twice. Just over a week ago, the world’s most powerful cyclone (in terms of accumulated cyclone energy over the course of the storm) wreaked celestial havoc in the southern part of the country; at last count, over 500 are dead, and hundreds of…
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