Mali: Women Speaking French is the Key

[Anthea Fraser Gupta]

This article reminded me of something curious I noticed on a recent trip to India.
 
Once upon a time water buffaloes were regularly taken out for their daily walks by children, usually little boys. Now (at least in the highly-educated and gender equal south), it's the grannies who take them out, owing to the little boys (and girls) being tied up in school.
 
So, if all the children go to school, the level of education is raised, the life expectancy is raised, and grandparents are hale and hearty and able to do the jobs the children once did.
 
And what sort of difference must this make to the life of the water buffalo?
 
http://www.kamat.com/kalranga/people/happy_boy.htm
 
http://www.flickr.com/photos/carpe_feline/1120931619/in/set-72157602061289067/
 
http://flickr.com/photos/hennalounge/320736427/
 
Anthea
 
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Anthea Fraser Gupta (Dr) 
School of English, University of Leeds, LS2 9JT <www.leeds.ac.uk/english/staff/afg> 
NB: Reply to a.f.gupta at leeds.ac.uk 
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