Tom Courtright
@tomcourtright.bsky.social
Bodas, e-mobility, transport, cities in Uganda, elsewhere
PhD student @ UCT
Boda research @ Lubyanza
E-mobility @ AfEMA
PhD student @ UCT
Boda research @ Lubyanza
E-mobility @ AfEMA
Reposted by Tom Courtright
we believe we are special and we simply are not
March 21, 2025 at 9:29 PM
we believe we are special and we simply are not
Reposted by Tom Courtright
The question is no longer if EVs are going to dominate the future. That’s fairly obvious. The question is now if the US is going to have any role in that market. Right now, it’s not looking promising. heatmap.news/electric-veh...
Why BYD Keeps Shocking the World
The Chinese carmaker says it can charge EVs in 5 minutes. Can America ever catch up?
heatmap.news
March 19, 2025 at 11:23 PM
The question is no longer if EVs are going to dominate the future. That’s fairly obvious. The question is now if the US is going to have any role in that market. Right now, it’s not looking promising. heatmap.news/electric-veh...
Reposted by Tom Courtright
Our reporting found that powerful lawmakers and security officers in Kenya and Uganda, well-connected businessmen and Saudi royals own agencies that profit off these domestic workers and perpetuate a vicious cycle of abuse. Here are the main takeaways.
Takeaways From Our Investigation Into Domestic Worker Abuse in Saudi Arabia (Gift Article)
Housekeepers from East Africa suffer beatings, starvation and sexual assault in Saudi Arabia. Here’s what else we learned about the cross-border trade in domestic workers.
www.nytimes.com
March 17, 2025 at 10:53 AM
Our reporting found that powerful lawmakers and security officers in Kenya and Uganda, well-connected businessmen and Saudi royals own agencies that profit off these domestic workers and perpetuate a vicious cycle of abuse. Here are the main takeaways.
Reposted by Tom Courtright
For more than a year, my colleague Justin Scheck and I looked into why domestic workers from across East Africa, who are promised jobs and a better life in Saudi Arabia, continued to face abuse, starvation and death. Here's what we found.
East African Housekeepers Face Rape, Assault and Death in Saudi Arabia (Gift Article)
East African leaders and Saudi royals are among those profiting off a lucrative, deadly trade in domestic workers.
www.nytimes.com
March 17, 2025 at 10:53 AM
For more than a year, my colleague Justin Scheck and I looked into why domestic workers from across East Africa, who are promised jobs and a better life in Saudi Arabia, continued to face abuse, starvation and death. Here's what we found.
Reposted by Tom Courtright
This should be one of the biggest stories in the world right now. Millions of people are either directly or indirectly dependent on the Kafue river for their survival. This is crazy.
A toxic acid spill from a Chinese owned in Zambia has “killed” a river that is a major lifeline for hundreds of thousands of people.
apnews.com/article/mini...
apnews.com/article/mini...
A river ‘died' overnight in Zambia after an acidic waste spill at a Chinese-owned mine
Authorities and environmentalists in Zambia fear the long-term impact of an acid spill at a Chinese-owned mine that poisoned a major river and could potentially affect millions of people after signs o...
apnews.com
March 17, 2025 at 5:44 PM
This should be one of the biggest stories in the world right now. Millions of people are either directly or indirectly dependent on the Kafue river for their survival. This is crazy.
Reposted by Tom Courtright
It would be helpful if more people understood renewable energy is actually an extremely disruptive technology and the reason monied interests are trying to make folks hate it is that they are the ones which will be disrupted.
March 5, 2025 at 6:09 PM
It would be helpful if more people understood renewable energy is actually an extremely disruptive technology and the reason monied interests are trying to make folks hate it is that they are the ones which will be disrupted.
A short trip to the land of all foods 🍽️💨
March 5, 2025 at 4:29 PM
A short trip to the land of all foods 🍽️💨
Reposted by Tom Courtright
Walked past a delivery driver on a motorbike in Johannesburg speaking Luganda. The bodas are coming.
@tomcourtright.bsky.social
@tomcourtright.bsky.social
February 17, 2025 at 2:27 PM
Walked past a delivery driver on a motorbike in Johannesburg speaking Luganda. The bodas are coming.
@tomcourtright.bsky.social
@tomcourtright.bsky.social
The boda boda board game is almost ready 👀
Brought to you by the madmen of Lubyanza:
Join the waitlist:
www.lubyanza.com/the-boda-boa...
Brought to you by the madmen of Lubyanza:
Join the waitlist:
www.lubyanza.com/the-boda-boa...
The Boda Board Game | Lubyanza Research Gr
www.lubyanza.com
February 17, 2025 at 11:12 AM
The boda boda board game is almost ready 👀
Brought to you by the madmen of Lubyanza:
Join the waitlist:
www.lubyanza.com/the-boda-boa...
Brought to you by the madmen of Lubyanza:
Join the waitlist:
www.lubyanza.com/the-boda-boa...
Reposted by Tom Courtright
Portrait of Antonius Emanuel, Kongo’s ambassador to Rome, ca. 1608.
the international activities of pre-colonial African travelers were often facilitated by the expansion of African states’ diplomatic and commercial interests.
www.africanhistoryextra.com/p/internal-d...
the international activities of pre-colonial African travelers were often facilitated by the expansion of African states’ diplomatic and commercial interests.
www.africanhistoryextra.com/p/internal-d...
February 16, 2025 at 3:06 PM
Portrait of Antonius Emanuel, Kongo’s ambassador to Rome, ca. 1608.
the international activities of pre-colonial African travelers were often facilitated by the expansion of African states’ diplomatic and commercial interests.
www.africanhistoryextra.com/p/internal-d...
the international activities of pre-colonial African travelers were often facilitated by the expansion of African states’ diplomatic and commercial interests.
www.africanhistoryextra.com/p/internal-d...
Reposted by Tom Courtright
Institutions are not self-executing. Enough people must be willing to do the right thing by the rules.
February 11, 2025 at 9:12 PM
Institutions are not self-executing. Enough people must be willing to do the right thing by the rules.
Reposted by Tom Courtright
Someone at the American Bar Association ate their Wheaties this morning.
February 10, 2025 at 8:32 PM
Someone at the American Bar Association ate their Wheaties this morning.
The recently launched United Boda Boda Riders Cooperative Union (UBBRCU) - a group which did not exist a month ago and almost no one outside government knew was coming - has now been designated in charge of bodas for the country.
February 11, 2025 at 8:57 AM
The recently launched United Boda Boda Riders Cooperative Union (UBBRCU) - a group which did not exist a month ago and almost no one outside government knew was coming - has now been designated in charge of bodas for the country.
In Kampala, a motorcycle driving license costs on average around a week of profit. 15% of drivers have them.
In Bangkok, a motorcycle driving license costs around a day of profit. 85% of drivers have them.
In Bangkok, a motorcycle driving license costs around a day of profit. 85% of drivers have them.
February 10, 2025 at 7:08 AM
In Kampala, a motorcycle driving license costs on average around a week of profit. 15% of drivers have them.
In Bangkok, a motorcycle driving license costs around a day of profit. 85% of drivers have them.
In Bangkok, a motorcycle driving license costs around a day of profit. 85% of drivers have them.
How Bangkok registers and regulates boda bodas:
(East Africa: It's Possible)
(East Africa: It's Possible)
February 10, 2025 at 6:32 AM
How Bangkok registers and regulates boda bodas:
(East Africa: It's Possible)
(East Africa: It's Possible)
"It’s survival of the boldest, and everyone seems to have a PhD in improvisation."
observer.ug/viewpoint/ch...
observer.ug/viewpoint/ch...
Chaos on wheels; reflection of Uganda’s economy and society - The Observer
We are approaching Centenary park trotting away from the heavy traffic and the January heat combined with a what’s becoming a “smogsville”-Kampala. At that junction, the traffic lights change to red, ...
observer.ug
February 10, 2025 at 5:29 AM
"It’s survival of the boldest, and everyone seems to have a PhD in improvisation."
observer.ug/viewpoint/ch...
observer.ug/viewpoint/ch...
Reposted by Tom Courtright
I'm deeply saddened to share that Donald Shoup passed away last night. He was the ideal academic—curious, methodical, and concerned with turning ideas into real-world change. TAing his parking course these past few years has one of the greatest honors of my life. Rest in peace, Shoup Dogg.
February 8, 2025 at 4:34 AM
I'm deeply saddened to share that Donald Shoup passed away last night. He was the ideal academic—curious, methodical, and concerned with turning ideas into real-world change. TAing his parking course these past few years has one of the greatest honors of my life. Rest in peace, Shoup Dogg.
Reposted by Tom Courtright
This will surprise many Americans:
According to a new study, gigantic SUVs are no safer for occupants than merely big SUVs.
"For vehicles that weigh more than [~4,000 lbs, the fleet avg], there’s hardly any decrease in risk for occupants associated with additional poundage."
According to a new study, gigantic SUVs are no safer for occupants than merely big SUVs.
"For vehicles that weigh more than [~4,000 lbs, the fleet avg], there’s hardly any decrease in risk for occupants associated with additional poundage."
Supersizing vehicles offers minimal safety benefits — but substantial dangers
The safety benefits of larger vehicles top out quickly once curb weights exceed the fleet average, a new IIHS study shows.
www.iihs.org
February 6, 2025 at 4:28 PM
This will surprise many Americans:
According to a new study, gigantic SUVs are no safer for occupants than merely big SUVs.
"For vehicles that weigh more than [~4,000 lbs, the fleet avg], there’s hardly any decrease in risk for occupants associated with additional poundage."
According to a new study, gigantic SUVs are no safer for occupants than merely big SUVs.
"For vehicles that weigh more than [~4,000 lbs, the fleet avg], there’s hardly any decrease in risk for occupants associated with additional poundage."
Much of the ChatGPT usage is where I am (East Africa) is driven by a desire to have "perfect English."
Personally, I would much rather read something that has original thoughts and grammatical mistakes than I would have to read something with no original thoughts and commas in the right place.
Personally, I would much rather read something that has original thoughts and grammatical mistakes than I would have to read something with no original thoughts and commas in the right place.
February 7, 2025 at 7:28 AM
Much of the ChatGPT usage is where I am (East Africa) is driven by a desire to have "perfect English."
Personally, I would much rather read something that has original thoughts and grammatical mistakes than I would have to read something with no original thoughts and commas in the right place.
Personally, I would much rather read something that has original thoughts and grammatical mistakes than I would have to read something with no original thoughts and commas in the right place.
Sifting through a lot of ChatGPT-written applications is such a massive waste of my time.
If you didn't take the time to write something, why should I take the time to read it?
If you didn't take the time to write something, why should I take the time to read it?
February 7, 2025 at 7:24 AM
Sifting through a lot of ChatGPT-written applications is such a massive waste of my time.
If you didn't take the time to write something, why should I take the time to read it?
If you didn't take the time to write something, why should I take the time to read it?
Reposted by Tom Courtright
The Papua New Guinea Courier is in rare form.
February 6, 2025 at 12:31 PM
The Papua New Guinea Courier is in rare form.
Most boda boda apps don't put the Presidents face on their visors.
February 6, 2025 at 1:16 PM
Most boda boda apps don't put the Presidents face on their visors.
Might be controversial and even in contradiction of where most of my pay comes from, but if there is going to be foreign ownership of transport businesses in East Africa, pursuit of economic justice would say the better choice would be Asian ownership over US or EU ownership.
February 5, 2025 at 10:05 AM
Might be controversial and even in contradiction of where most of my pay comes from, but if there is going to be foreign ownership of transport businesses in East Africa, pursuit of economic justice would say the better choice would be Asian ownership over US or EU ownership.
Extremely important. Ride-hailing - of all kinds - necessitates empty vehicles somewhere, going to pick someone, looking for work, etc.
That in and of itself is highly wasteful, causing traffic, air pollution, etc.
That in and of itself is highly wasteful, causing traffic, air pollution, etc.
Here’s a paper we did about this pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/...
February 4, 2025 at 8:31 AM
Extremely important. Ride-hailing - of all kinds - necessitates empty vehicles somewhere, going to pick someone, looking for work, etc.
That in and of itself is highly wasteful, causing traffic, air pollution, etc.
That in and of itself is highly wasteful, causing traffic, air pollution, etc.